ERIC Number: EJ1454624
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jan
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: EISSN-1461-7005
"Glimmers of Hope and Good Things": Positive Aspects of Caregiving to Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v29 n1 p233-246 2025
Studies commonly measure the challenges of caring for autistic adolescents and young adults, but scarcely explore the positive aspects of the caregiving experience. This study employed an equal-status concurrent mixed methods approach to quantitatively assess predictors of positive aspects of caregiving and qualitatively examine 174 caregivers' perceived rewards, or positive aspects, of caring for autistic adolescents and young adults (ages 16-30 years). Results from multiple regression analyses suggest that youth's helping behavior most strongly predicted positive aspects of caregiving, and youth receiving more services and caregivers' greater report of social support and use of religious, acceptance, and instrumental support coping also significantly predicted greater reported positive aspects of caregiving. Findings from a phenomenologically informed thematic analysis suggest that caregivers find reward in witnessing youths' progress and joyous qualities, in the caregiver-youth relationship, and in caregivers' own growth. Mixed methods findings highlight that positive aspects of caregiving likely extend caregivers' self-development and may be relationship-specific. Study findings offer a strengths-based framework that highlights the positive aspects of caring for autistic adolescents and young adults. We contribute to the research in defining factors related to positive aspects of caregiving, which may inform future work and contribute to caregiver well-being.
Descriptors: Adolescents, Young Adults, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Predictor Variables, Services, Social Support Groups, Religion, Coping, Child Rearing, Barriers, Individual Characteristics, Family Role, Behavior Problems, Helping Relationship, Affordances, Individual Development, Role, Interpersonal Relationship, Attitudes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ohio
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A