The Effects of Hope on Mental Health and Chronic Sorrow in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

This study examined the relationships among hope as defined by Snyder et al. (1991), a parents' hope for their child, autism severity, chronic sorrow, and mental health in parents of children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. The study yielded evidence of good internal consistency and validity for a new measurement of parents' hope for their child. Significant positive relationships were found between hope and parents' hope for their child, and between both types of hope and positive affect and satisfaction with support. Significant negative relationships were found between both forms of hope and autism severity, chronic sorrow, anxiety, and depression. The findings are interpreted as suggesting that hope and parents' hope for their child are important factors in positive coping in parents of children with autism. The representativeness of the sample is discussed as an important limitation of the current study.