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Sense of Coherence and Coping with Stress Among Mothers and Fathers of Children with Autism

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Abstract

The purpose of the study was to compare the level of sense of coherence (SOC) in parents of children with autism and in parents of typically developing children, and to examine the association between SOC level and coping strategies. Two questionnaires were used: Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29) and Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Parents of children with autism had a lower level of the total SOC, meaningfulness, and manageability compared with controls, and used escape-avoidance coping more often. No differences in SOC level were found between mothers and fathers. In parents of children with autism the SOC level was positively associated with seeking social support and self-controlling, and negatively with accepting responsibility and positive reappraisal.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Grant 1069/30 from the Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw.

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  1. Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Stawki Str. 5/7, 00-183, Warsaw, Poland

    Ewa Pisula & Zuzanna Kossakowska

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  1. Ewa Pisula
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Correspondence to Ewa Pisula.

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Pisula, E., Kossakowska, Z. Sense of Coherence and Coping with Stress Among Mothers and Fathers of Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 40, 1485–1494 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1001-3

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