Author

Aimee Rovane

Date of Award

Fall 2019

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Stacy-Ann January

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that parent involvement with behavior treatment for associated challenging behaviors (ACBs) may reduce parent stress in families with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is not known whether high treatment adherence to protocols is associated with reduced parent stress, or which factors that may moderate this relation. The current study examined the relation between parents’ adherence to behavioral treatments and parent stress, and whether parents’ perceptions toward treatment moderate this association. Participants were 190 mothers, fathers, or caregivers of a child with ASD. A bivariate correlation matrix examined associations between each variable, and 3 separate linear regression models regressed parent stress on treatment adherence, perceptions of treatment, and the interaction of the two. Treatment adherence had a significant negative relation with parent stress. Treatment burden, but neither treatment relevance nor treatment effectiveness, emerged as a moderator. These findings have implications for clinicians and treatment providers who are well positioned to monitor and address parent attitudes toward treatment.

Rights

© 2019, Aimee Rovane

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