A Personal Construct Approach to Understanding Stress in Mothers of Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

This study explored the contribution of Personal Construct Psychology (PCP) and the repertory grid technique to understanding stress when raising a child diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Associations between child level of functional impairment, parenting stress, psychological distress, and maternal construing were examined in mothers of 25 children diagnosed with ASD. Results suggest that a personal construct perspective may help delineate factors involved in parent adjustment to ASDs.