Family functioning during the diagnosis process in families with children on the autism spectrum Cover Image

Functionarea familiei de-a lungul procesului de diagnostic în familiile cu copii din spectrul autist
Family functioning during the diagnosis process in families with children on the autism spectrum

Author(s): Cornelia Munteanu, Karola Dillenburger
Subject(s): Psychology
Published by: Asociatia DIANOIA
Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; children; diagnosis process; family functioning; family systems

Summary/Abstract: While the causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) still are not fully understood, increasingly research focuses on interventions and treatment of children diagnosed with ASD. Considerably less attention is paid to family systems, family functioning, and family needs. This paper takes a family system perspective exploring how families with children on the autism spectrum function during the particularly stressful period of the diagnosis process and thereafter. Recommendations made in this paper include the need for empirical studies that address in detail family systems, family needs, the assessment and diagnostic process, service provision, social support networks, and additional stressful life events. Furthermore, the development of a family functioning assessment tools is called for in order to promote child-family-centred assessment and intervention. Details of an ongoing comparative study are outlined that will make a contribution to family studies and autism research field with a specific focus on the diagnosis.

  • Issue Year: 2009
  • Issue No: 03 (en)
  • Page Range: 39-55
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: English