This article aims to review the literature on family functioning in the field of autism. The search was conducted in August 2021 in PubMed, PsycINFO, and PubPsy and sixty-two articles were included. Studies were published in English between 1980 and 2021 and provided quantitative data from validated measures of family functioning in families with…

In Italy, family fostering is in most cases a voluntary service where foster parents are non-professional helpers. About half of the foster parents are couples with children of their own, which makes fostering a "family enterprise." Within growing attention to children's voices in research, the paper focuses on children living foster…

The impact of autism on the family is an area of study that merits further research attention. Much of the existing literature has focused on the parent perspective, with less emphasis on the experiences of other family members, particularly non-autistic siblings. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of a sample of nine 8- to…

Background: Family members of children with developmental disabilities on average report poorer family functioning and mental health. Positive Family Connections is a co-produced, positively-oriented, family-systems support programme for families of children with developmental disabilities aged 8-13. We investigated experiences of Positive Family…

Kinship care is care provided by members of a child's extended family or friend network when they can no longer live with their parents. Kinship care is the most prevalent form of out-of-home care, both internationally and in the UK. Little is known about kinship care from the perspectives of children and specifically, the risk and protective…

Background: Siblings of children with intellectual disability have unique family experiences, varying by type of disability. Methods: Parents of children with Down syndrome (156) or with Rett syndrome (149) completed questionnaires relating to sibling advantages and disadvantages, experiences of holidays and recreation, and perceived availability…

Background: Music is weaved within our cultures; it is ever-present within daily-life and can considerably influence our mood, well-being and relationships. This study explores parental perceptions of the role of music in the home-lives of children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities in the UK. It considers parental…

Introduction: Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with cognitive, emotional, and learning impairments have an increased likelihood of experiencing behavioral and socio-emotional difficulties and historical trauma. Methods: Using the interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health instrument, this…

Background: The current study examined the interrelations among social support, family quality of life (FQOL), and family cohesion and adaptability in Chinese families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: A sample of 163 caregivers of children with ASD in China were surveyed with the Social Support Rating Scale, Beach Center…

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether families of children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) are organized similarly to those of typically developing, typically hearing (TH) children and whether the dimensions of family dynamics and environment are related to spoken language development similarly in children with and without…

Sleep problems of varying kind and severity, including both insomnias and parasomnias, are a commonly reported clinical problem among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and, it is estimated that approximately 50-80% of children with ASD and their families are affected by such problems. Without effective treatment, these…

We used a mixed-methods online survey to recruit 616 young Australians whose parents had separated, to understand their experiences and how to better support them throughout the separation process. Persistent themes included conflict, lack of communication and agency, mental health concerns, and feelings of confusion, frustration, loss, and grief.…

The 2021-2022 Study of Family and Staff Well-Being in Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) Programs (2021-2022 Study) arose out of a need to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the lives of Head Start families and staff. The goal was to provide data on the characteristics and needs of families and staff after nearly two…

The influential role of parents has long been acknowledged as a key contributor to children's bilingual development. Parents' home-based informal efforts to foster children's bilingual abilities are described as family language policies (FLPs). The important connection between bilingualism and FLP has been established, but to date there are few…

Families provide a critical context for the overall growth and development of a child. The health of a family is foundational to the everyday life in which a child and family can flourish. For families raising a child with autism, the chronic, intense nature of everyday life affects family health in part due to increased parental stress and…