FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

PARENTAL MANAGEMENT APPROACHES AND COPING STRATEGIES USED IN HANDLING THE MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

A Thesis presented to The Institute of Education Far Eastern University Manila

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Bachelor of Elementary Education major in Special Education

by ANDRES, MARIA ANTONETTE C. MACAWILI, IVY P. PAEZ, ROCHELLE ANNE G.

MARCH 2014

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY Abstract This study was conducted to find out what behavioral management approaches and coping strategies are used by the parents on handling the maladaptive behavior of their children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, also in dealing with the stresses they experience. Most studies that were conducted are about behavior management approaches that only focused in the classroom settings wherein teachers and students are the only involved. Teachers used different kind of management approaches to lessen the maladaptive behavior of their students. In this study, the researchers focus on the parent-child relationship and what are the agreed management approaches to be used and the coping strategies that they did. The researchers used a descriptive method to gather data in finding out the behavior manifested on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, in the behavior management approaches used by the parents to handle their child, and lastly the coping strategies that were done by parents to cope with their stress due to the maladaptive behavior of the children. The data gathered was around the City of Manila with 30 respondents. The study found out that parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder agreed in using positive behavior approach in encouraging their child to appropriate behavior rather than giving negative behavior approach and punishment. And on the parental coping strategies, parents seek help to God as their way of coping to the situation, and the least one was seeking help to their family.

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Background of the study Having a child is one of the wonderful things every couple could have. The joy on the face of the parents is unexplainable. But to inform the parents that their child has a disability will need greatly compassion and understanding on them. And here where they begin a journey into unknown territory (Dzubay, 2011). Acceptance from the family members will reflect their reaction. And raising a children with disability can set a heavy time demand and role restrictions on the family that is usually fulfilled by mothers (Hooper and Umansky, 2004).

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY Moreover, if the child is diagnosed with autism, it will be more challenging to the parents compared to the parents of children with other disabilities because they experienced higher level of stress and psychological stress (Abbedito et. al., 2004). Also, lot of hardships and stressors will be encountered by the parents (Atiere, 2006). In most cases, a child with autism has low social functioning, impairment in communication, and aggressive and self-destructive behaviors (Fombonne, 2003). They also have limited attention spans and easily get frustrated (Lecavalier & Wiltz, 2006, Volkmar & Wiesner, 2009). The different combination of problems with communication and emotional expression in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder is difficult for parents to understand (Gray, 2006) Parents are prone to stress during this kind of situation because of the maladaptive behavior of their children. Many researches talks about how to deal with this stresses but most importantly how to manage the behavior of their child. Parents cannot control the behavior of their children because it is a nature of a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder to manifests these kinds of behaviors. But there are effective ways in managing this kind of behavior and appropriate ways that will not lessen the bond of the relationship of the parents and their children. A good management skill is needed to have a good result on a better parent-child relationship in a way that parents are likely involve in their childs daily activities (Lali et al., 2012). According to Sanders, Bor & Morawska, it can be a way to increase the social development of the child and can reduce problem behaviors in social-learning strategies and such as monitoring and reinforcement in the child. It can also paves the way for the

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY parents to be more effective in explicating rules and disciplining styles for their children (Lali, Malekpour, Molavi, Abedi, & Asgari, 2012). The study talks about several ways of management which parents may do to handle and lessen the maladaptive of their child. Parents who sought more information about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) had few resources available to them.(National Autism Center). Most people with an Autism spectrum disorder displayed a variety of challenging behavior. And the researchers aim to find the different strategies that can be used to the maladaptive behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder that will also not help the parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder but also their teachers and school administrators. The research study can help parents of children with ASD to deal and avoid the maladaptive behavior of their child. It discusses the different ways, styles, and strategies to avoid or lessen, cope and deal with the maladaptive behavior of their children diagnosed with ASD. The researchers come up with this study to know more about the parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, on how they handle their children especially at their home. Past researchers always tells about teachers on handling the behavior of students with autism but few studies that focus on the parents of children with autism here in the Philippines. On this study the researchers want to find out on how the parents handle their childs maladaptive behavior. Especially, parents play an important role on

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY the development of their children. They are the one who prepares the child before letting them to enter schooling. The study can beneficial to parents of children with Autism spectrum disorder. It can also be an added knowledge for the future students who want to study about this research topic. Scope and Limitation of the Study The scope of the study focused on the parent-child relationship. It helps to get involved in the cycle between parent and child. The parent is the actual parent or the childs legal guardian (The National Childrens Resource Centre, 2006). The respondents of this research study focused to the parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder that lives within Manila. The limitation of the study doesnt include the relationship of the child with ASD to his family members such as cousins, aunties, grandparents, etc. relationship to the child if the actual parent of the child is present. The study limits the area where researchers surveyed, so cities surrounding Manila are not included. The study limits to 30 respondents. Since the research study is descriptive, the limitation of the research instrument tackles only the different approaches and management of the parents in handling the maladaptive behavior of their child with Autism Spectrum Disorder and not the effectiveness of it

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY Synthesis This research study has provided information regarding on parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder and handling the maladaptive behavior that the child manifest. The stereotypical, self-injurious, tantrum behaviors are some behaviors performed of the child with autism spectrum disorder which is caused stresses to the parents. Previous researches stated that parents and/or teacher need help to understand the childs responses, actions, and behaviors. Koegel, Schreibman, ONeill, and Burke (1983) found that parents of children with autism did not differ significantly on measures of stress when compared to a normative group of happily married couples. However, McKinney and Peterson (1987) discovered that parents who have a child with autism endure more stress than parents of children without autism. Further, Sivberg (2002) compared level of stress and types of coping strategies of autistic and non-autistic families. Behavioral management approaches are used by the parents as their way in dealing on the maladaptive behavior of the child. On the results, most parents used positive behavioral approach to their children for it just not increase the positive behavior but also tighten the relationship of the parents and child. The researchers also discussed about the coping strategies. Research studies show that the level of stress of parents with Autism Spectrum Disorder lessens as they used the coping strategies and behavior effectively on a regular basis (Prince, 2008). And the research of Jones and Passey (2004) supports the study.

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY Some of the study focuses on children in the classroom and teachers deal in the behavior that they manifest. The difference of this study to others, it focuses on the parent and child relationship. It discussed how parents managed the maladaptive behavior of their children with Autism Spectrum Disorder when the child is not with the supervision of the teacher and the different ways to cope up with the stresses due to the maladaptive behavior of their children.

Summary 1. The socio-demographic profiles of the parent-respondents were gathered as questioned in the statement of the problem number one. According to the findings 73% of the parent-respondents were female and 27% were male. 1.2 The age bracket was 41 45 and it was commonly answered by the parentrespondents which got the 63%. There are no parent-respondents that aged 26 to 30. Only 3% aged 31 to 35, 20% are in the age bracket of 36-40 years old. 1.3 The civil status of the respondents was mostly married having 83%, 10% been widowed, 3% of respondents were single, and there have no separated status in the respondents. 1.4 The occupation of the parent-respondents were usually employed which got 37%, 27% were not employed, 23% were teachers, 3% in allied professions and law enforcer.

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY 1.5 The monthly income of the parent-respondents usually has 40% monthly income ranges 21,000-25,000. 10% ranges in 26,000-30,000 and 7% ranges in 46,000-50,000 and 20,000&below. 2. The most common behavior that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder manifest in the stereotypical behavior is the behavior of rocking side to side which got the frequency of 10, next in the list is tapping of ears which got the frequency of 9, third in the list is snapping fingers, fourth is visual staring at lights, and the behavior that least manifested by children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are scratching and flapping of hands which both got the frequency of 2. On the selfinjurious behavior, the most frequently behavior manifested by the children with Autism Spectrum Disorder is pulling of hair which got a frequency of 10. Spanking him/herself got the next in top, head banging and biting oneself got a frequency of 3, cutting him/her only a frequency of 2 and the least in the self-injurious behavior manifest by children with Autism Spectrum Disorder is punching him/herself which got a frequency of 1. Lastly on the tantrum behavior, the most frequently behavior manifested by the children with Autism Spectrum Disorder is crying which got a frequency of 19. Screaming got the next in top, aggression and dropping to the ground got a frequency of 3, kicking only got a frequency of 2 and the least in the tantrums behavior manifest by children with Autism Spectrum Disorder is whining which got a frequency of 0. 3. Most parents agreed on using a positive behavioral approach as a way of disciplining their child. The most commonly positive behavior approach used by

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY the parent-respondents were guiding and encouraging the child to the appropriate behavior which has a weighted mean of 4.97. According to the verbal interpretation stated in the statistical treatment of the study, parent-respondents were strongly agreed in using the said positive approaches. The most common used was guiding the child to the appropriate behavior and the least is giving tokens. While on the negative approaches, parents do not agree on using negative approach on their child but sometimes they spank the buttocks of their children which are commonly done by parents. And the least is not allowing their child to socialize to the other peers because of their behavior, and this is contrary to other studies that some parents are not able to seek help on their other friends because of the condition of their child. On the punishment, most parents do not agree on this kind of approach. Though they give extra chores to the child, they still not give corporal punishment unto them. Giving punishment to the child may affect the relationship of the parent and the child. 4. On the three kinds of approaches, parents agreed to use positive behavioral approach in order to handle the maladaptive behavior of their child with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 5. Most parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder seek help to God as a way of their coping to the situation and the least one is seeking help to their family which is surprising.

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Conclusion 1. The socio-demographic profile of the parent-respondents shows that females are more involve in their children with Autism Spectrum Disorder than of the males. The usual age bracket of the parent-respondents is 41 to 45 which shows that many parents are in the adulthood and have prior knowledge in handling children. Parent-respondents are usually married and only 3% are single. Almost all of the respondents have partners that help them on handling their children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and also someone to talk to regarding the behavior of the child. Also, parent-respondents have source on their finances for their children that is enough to support the needs of their children especially for their children with Autism. 2. Children manifest different maladaptive behaviors that cause stresses to the parents. The researchers concluded that having children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder make them gain more stress due to the maladaptive behavior of their children. This maladaptive behavior does not just affect other people but also they harm themselves which people thinks they are suicidal. 3. Parents makes used of positive behavior management as means of discipline to their children. Though, some parents do not disagree in using negative approaches and punishment they still give extra chores to their children and

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY loss their rewards when they misbehave. They also allow their child to socialize with other peers even though they manifest a maladaptive behavior. 4. Nowadays, parents now do not agree on using punishment as a mean of discipline to their children. Parents used other approaches that they think is effective on handling the behavior of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder without affecting their relationship to the child. The relationship to their children is still the most important to the parents, they will use appropriate approaches that will not just strengthen the positive behavior of the child but also tighten their relationship to their child. 5. Parents tend to rely on their faith and beliefs in God. As a religious country like the Philippines, people really seek more help to God rather than anybody else especially during difficult situations in their lives. People would actually feel more accepted when they are seeking the help of Almighty God. The study concludes that most parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder still in the denial stage because based on the research findings the least commonly used parental coping strategies is the positive attitude and acceptance. Also, the study concluded that aside from seeking Gods help, parents also seek more from the professionals because parents nowadays are more practical, they seek advice to people who are really in the field. Moreover, parents used relaxation frequently because parents have less time to enjoy and think about what they need. Recommendation

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FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY 1. The researchers recommend their study in school administration to have more activities involving parents. Involving the parents in more activities help to have the parents and child to be more bonded and develop their relationship to each other. And also the researchers want to recommend it to the teachers to apply appropriate behavioral management in handling the undesirable behavior of children with Autism spectrum disorder. Researchers suggest also to the future students who do the same research topic to come up with a comparative study that will correlate the socio-demographic profile of the parent-respondents and the parental management approaches. 2. To the teachers to apply appropriate behavioral management in handling the undesirable behavior of children with Autism spectrum disorder. And to the behavioral specialist that conduct functional behavior assessment which involve in observing the childs behavior. 3. Because of the limitation of this study, researchers suggest also to the future students who do the same research topic to come up with a comparative study that will correlate the socio-demographic profile of the parentrespondents to the parental management approaches and parental coping strategies. Also to investigate systematically the effectiveness of these parental management and coping strategies in the maladaptive behavior of their children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 4. To the NGO to implement activities that involved the children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is to be aware the members of the community that

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FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY there are children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and there also part of the community.

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