Parenting a Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Marital Status

Suspended

• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Registration Number: NCT01435733
• Lead Sponsor: Sheba Medical Center

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the presence of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder places parents at increased risk for divorce.

Detailed Description

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are lifelong neurodevelopmental disorders involving a triad of impairments in communication and social reciprocity and increases in repetitive/restricted interests and behaviors. ASD includes: autistic disorder, Asperger's syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Rett's syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder as pervasive developmental disorders (American Psychiatric Association \[DSM-IV-TR\], 2000).

Few disabilities appear to be more taxing on parents than ASDs.Parents of children with ASD fare worse on a variety of measures of well-being than parents of children without disabilities as well as parents of children with other types of disabilities.

Studies investigating the impact of a child with disabilities, specifically ASD, are inconclusive. However, parents of children with ASD may be at increased risk for divorce due to a variety of personal and disability related factors. In Israel the relationship of having a child with autism on the probability of divorce has not been tested yet. The aim of this study is to profile this relationship and determine the magnitude and directionality of the effect raising ASD children has on the resilience of the institution of marriage and the satisfaction both partners derive. This will be tested using a short telephone survey.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-09-01
• Study First Submitted: 2011-09-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2011-09-16
• Study First Posted: 2011-09-19
• Status Verified: 2018-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-06-28
• Last Update Posted: 2018-07-02
• Primary Completion: 2020-01-01
• Study Completion: 2020-01-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: SUSPENDED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

• parents to a child with ASD

Exclusion Criteria

• none

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
lower or higher levels of divorce	not relevant (phone survey)	lower or higher levels of divorce

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Weinberg Child Development Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer; 🇮🇱 Ramat Gan, Israel