TY - JOUR
T1 - Coherence of Representations Regarding the Child, Resolution of the Child’s Diagnosis and Emotional Availability
T2 - A Study of Arab-Israeli Mothers of Children with ASD
AU - Sher-Censor, Efrat
AU - Dolev, Smadar
AU - Said, Marwa
AU - Baransi, Nagham
AU - Amara, Kholud
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
PY - 2017/10/1
Y1 - 2017/10/1
N2 - This study examined the interplay of mothers’ coherent representations of their child (i.e., multidimensional and balanced view); resolution of the child’s ASD diagnosis (i.e., acceptance); and emotional availability to the child in the unique cultural context of Arab-Israeli families. Participants were 46 mothers and their 2–8 year old sons. Coherent representations and resolution of the diagnosis were assessed using narrative measures. Emotional availability (namely, sensitivity, structuring, and lack of intrusiveness and hostility) was observed during mother–child play interactions. Results suggested that coherent and resolved mothers were more emotionally available than incoherent and/or unresolved mothers. These findings highlight the importance of supporting mothers’ ability to accept the child’s diagnosis and see the unique characteristics of the child beyond his ASD symptoms.
AB - This study examined the interplay of mothers’ coherent representations of their child (i.e., multidimensional and balanced view); resolution of the child’s ASD diagnosis (i.e., acceptance); and emotional availability to the child in the unique cultural context of Arab-Israeli families. Participants were 46 mothers and their 2–8 year old sons. Coherent representations and resolution of the diagnosis were assessed using narrative measures. Emotional availability (namely, sensitivity, structuring, and lack of intrusiveness and hostility) was observed during mother–child play interactions. Results suggested that coherent and resolved mothers were more emotionally available than incoherent and/or unresolved mothers. These findings highlight the importance of supporting mothers’ ability to accept the child’s diagnosis and see the unique characteristics of the child beyond his ASD symptoms.
KW - Arab-Israeli
KW - Autism spectrum disorder
KW - Emotional availability
KW - Five minute speech sample-coherence
KW - Maternal sensitivity
KW - Resolution of the diagnosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85022228017&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3228-8
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3228-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 28695436
SN - 0162-3257
VL - 47
SP - 3139
EP - 3149
JO - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
JF - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
IS - 10
ER -