Neighborhoods, Family Functioning, and Mothers’ Mental Health for Families with a Child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Andrew L. Whitehead ()
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Andrew L. Whitehead: Clemson University

Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2017, vol. 12, issue 3, No 7, 633-651

Abstract: Abstract Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) typically report lower overall family functioning and worse mental health. Neighborhood conditions are found to positively influence family functioning and mental health in the general population. Employing a process-person-context model, this study extends these literatures to examine whether various neighborhood conditions – both positive and negative – affect mothers’ mental health and the overall functioning of families with a child with an ASD. Simultaneous equation path analysis of a nationally representative sample of children in the US finds neighborhood support to be positively and significantly associated with mothers’ mental health and the overall functioning of families with a child with an ASD. However, neighborhood amenities and neighborhood deficiencies were not significantly associated with either mothers’ mental health or family functioning. Neighborhood support can play a vital role in improved subjective quality of life for mothers with a child on the autism spectrum.

Keywords: Autism; Neighborhoods; Quality of life; Mental health; Mothers; Children; Family functioning; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1007/s11482-016-9480-9

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