2016 Gatlinburg Conference Poster
PS-34
Title: Actor-Partner Models Of Associations between Marital and Parent-Child Relationship Quality in Families of Children with
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Emily J. Hickey, Sigan Hartley, Shari Blumenstock
Introduction: The family systems perspective theorizes that the quality of the marital relationship is connected to parenting
experiences in meaningful ways. Virtually nothing is known about this connection in families of children with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD). Expressed emotion in five minute speech samples (FMSS) provides a method for assessing warmth and criticism
toward a child or spouse and has been shown to be associated with these qualities in actual interactions. The goal of this study
was to use Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (Cook & Kenny, 2005) to: 1) examine how one's own (i.e. actor) and one's
partner's level of warmth and criticism in a FMSS about their spouse relates to their level of parenting stress; and 2) examine
how one's own (i.e., actor) and one's partner's level of warmth and criticism in a FMSS about their child with ASD relates to their
level of marital quality.
Methods: Analyses are based on 79 married couples that have a child with ASD. Parents individually completed two FMSS, one
about their child and one about their spouse (Magaña et al., 1986). Samples were audio recorded and coded for level of warmth
and criticism by a trained and reliable coder according to well-developed criteria (Magaña et al., 1986). Parents were
predominantly Caucasian, middle-class, and ranged from 25-65 years of age (M = 43.34 years, SD = 8.08). Children with ASD were
aged 3-20 years (M = 11.84 years, SD = 4.9) and 77% were male. Parents individually completed the Marital Adjustment Test
(Locke & Wallace, 1959), and Burden Interview (Zarit, Reever, & Bach-Peterson, 1980).
Results: Multi-level modeling using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was conducted. Level 1 variables included actor gender,
race/ethnicity, education, age, warmth, level of criticism and warmth, and partner level of warmth and criticism. Level 2 variables
included couple relationship length, household income, child age, child gender, severity of the child's autism symptoms, severity
of the child's behavior problems, and child's presence of an intellectual disability. Results indicated that actor level of warmth in
the FMSS about their spouse was negatively related to level of parenting stress (Coeff = -1.55, SE = 0.53). Actor level of warmth
in the FMSS about their child with ASD was positively related to level of marital satisfaction (Coeff = 4.31, SE = 1.86). Actor level
of criticism in the FMSS about their child with ASD was also positively related to level of marital satisfaction (Coeff = 5.36, SE =
2.46).
Discussion: Results indicate an association between marital quality and parenting experiences in families of children with ASD.
Specifically, parents who expressed more warmth about their spouse reported lower levels of parenting stress. Parents who
expressed more warmth about their child with ASD reported higher levels of marital satisfaction. Findings highlight the need for
family-wide services and interventions, as outcomes for parents and children with ASD are closely linked.
References/Citations:
• Cook, W. L., & Kenny, D. A. (2005). The actor-partner interdependence model: A model of bidirectional effects in
developmental studies. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 29(2), 101-109.
• Locke, H. J., & Wallace, K. M. (1959). Short marital adjustment and prediction tests: Their reliability and validity.
Marriage and Family Living, 21, 251-255.
• Magaña, A. B., Goldstein, M. J., Karno, M., Miklowitz, D. J., Jenkins, J., & Falloon, I. R. (1986). A brief method for
assessing expressed emotion in relatives of psychiatric patients. Psychiatry research, 17(3), 203-212.
• Zarit, S. H., Reever, K. E., & Bach-Peterson, J. (1980). Relatives of the impaired elderly: Correlates of feelings of
burden. The Gerontologist, 20(6), 649-655.