Abstract
BackgroundThe family system represents a critical context within which children develop. Although raising a child with a disability may represent a challenge to this dynamic system, research demonstrates that families have the capacity to demonstrate both maladaptation and resilience in the face of related stressors. In the current study, we examined the psychometric properties of the Family Resilience Assessment Scale (FRAS) among families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This tool is the only measure of family resilience that seeks to identify within-family protective factors, including the extent to which they rely on adaptive belief systems, organizational patterns, and communication processes. Identifying protective processes utilized by those who show resilience is critical within both clinical practice and research, as it aligns with a strength-based perspective that builds on what families are doing well.MethodsParticipants included 174 caregivers of individuals with ASD (84% mothers). Caregivers completed the FRAS, as well as the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale. The 54-item FRAS was submitted to an exploratory factor analysis, using the iterated principal factor method with a promax rotation.ResultsFifty-one items across 3 factors (Family Communication and Problem Solving, Utilizing Social and Economic Resources, Family Spirituality) were retained, explaining 52% of the total variance. The final scale demonstrated convergent validity with the Family Quality of Life assessment tool.ConclusionsIt is our hope that identifying the optimal scale structure will encourage other researchers to utilize this measure with families of children with ASD, thus continuing to advance the study of family resilience within this unique context.
Highlights
The family system represents a critical context within which children develop
As any attempts to include some of these cross-loadings did not result in improved model fit, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using the iterated principal factor method of extraction was run on the data
The initial solution identified one item that did not load on any factors, and this item was dropped (“We feel taken for granted by family members”)
Summary
The family system represents a critical context within which children develop. raising a child with a disability may represent a challenge to this dynamic system, research demonstrates that families have the capacity to demonstrate both maladaptation and resilience in the face of related stressors. We examined the psychometric properties of the Family Resilience Assessment Scale (FRAS) among families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) This tool is the only measure of family resilience that seeks to identify within-family protective factors, including the extent to which they rely on adaptive belief systems, organizational patterns, and communication processes. Families must re-negotiate established roles and adjust their expectations for child rearing within this new and uncharted context [12] This situation may present considerable challenge, with research indicating that many families experience heightened stress [13] and poor quality of life [14], qualitative research highlights families’ tremendous capacity for resilience [15,16,17,18]. In Bayat’s [15] study, one parent described a strengthened marriage, with another stating: “Autism has made us stronger and more cohesive” (p. 709)
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