3.
Discussion
Family
hardiness
is
an
important
construct
to
understand
coping
in
mothers
of
individuals
with
ASD.
We
explored
hardiness
in
two
ways.
First,
we
found
that
it
was
a
significant
mediator
of
the
relationship
between
the
build
up
of
stressors
(seen
here
as
the
experience
of
negative
life
events
and
aggressive
child
behavior)
and
family
distress.
Second,
we
found
that
informal
social
support
and
perceived
self-efficacy
were
significant
mediators
explaining
the
path
from
the
build
up
of
stressors
to
hardiness.
Past
research
has
linked
these
three
variables
(self
efficacy,
social
support
and
hardiness)
to
parental
adjustment.
Our
study
goes
beyond
discussion
of
associations,
and
offers
some
theoretical
explanations
for
linking
chronic
stressors
to
family
distress,
by
showing
that
self-efficacy
and
social
support
can
explain
changes
in
hardiness,
which
in
turn
can
explain
caregiver’s
perception
of
family
distress.
These
findings
support
process
models
of
family
coping,
which
propose
that
stressors
can
have
destabilizing
influences
on
parents’
internal
and
external
resources,
which
can
then
lead
to
changes
in
the
meaning
applied
to
the
situation
and
ultimately
to
experiences
of
distress
(McCubbin
&
Patterson,
1983;
Patterson,
1988).
3. Discussion Family hardiness is an important construct to understand coping in mothers of individuals with ASD. We explored hardiness in two ways. First, we found that it was a significant mediator of the relationship between the build up of stressors (seen here as the experience of negative life events and aggressive child behavior) and family distress. Second, we found that informal social support and perceived self-efficacy were significant mediators explaining the path from the build up of stressors to hardiness. Past research has linked these three variables (self efficacy, social support and hardiness) to parental adjustment. Our study goes beyond discussion of associations, and offers some theoretical explanations for linking chronic stressors to family distress, by showing that self-efficacy and social support can explain changes in hardiness, which in turn can explain caregiver’s perception of family distress. These findings support process models of family coping, which propose that stressors can have destabilizing influences on parents' internal and external resources, which can then lead to changes in the meaning applied to the situation and ultimately to experiences of distress (McCubbin & Patterson, 1983; Patterson, 1988).
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