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Separation of Parents Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

We examined the occurrence and timing of separation of parents raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorders followed over a 10-year period (n = 119). We also compared the clinical characteristics of children and sociodemographic variables between parents who remained as a couple versus parents who separated. The results showed that after 10 years of follow-up 74.8 % of the couples remained together (n = 89), representing a separation rate of 25.2 %. This rate remained stable over the study period. There was no significant difference in any of the clinical and sociodemographic variables between comparison groups. Our results suggest that raising a child with autism does not often lead to the dissolution of the parents’ relationship, as is commonly believed. The occurrence of parental separation in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders does not appear to vary according to their stage of life (childhood or adolescence). Lastly, the clinical profile of children and sociodemographic variables do not seem to influence the relationship status of parents.

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Notes

  1. VPresent = Present Value

  2. VPast = Past Value

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to sincerely thank the teenagers and their families for participating in this study, as well as the clinical teams for their contribution to this research. Finally, the authors thank Professor Charles Aussilloux, Valerie Macioce, Anne Wagner and Bernard Ledesert for their valuable collaboration. This work was supported by the France Telecom Foundation and the National Clinical Research Program (PHRC 1997 and 2007).

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Autism Resources Centre, CHRU Montpellier and Laboratory Epsylon (EA 4556, University of Montpellier), Montpellier, France

    Carolina Baeza-Velasco, Cécile Michelon, Cécile Rattaz, Eric Pernon & Amaria Baghdadli

  2. Autism Resources Centre, 39 Avenue Charles Flahaut, 34295, Montpellier Cedex 05, France

    Carolina Baeza-Velasco

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  1. Carolina Baeza-Velasco
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  2. Cécile Michelon
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  3. Cécile Rattaz
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  4. Eric Pernon
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  5. Amaria Baghdadli
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Correspondence to Carolina Baeza-Velasco.

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Baeza-Velasco, C., Michelon, C., Rattaz, C. et al. Separation of Parents Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Dev Phys Disabil 25, 613–624 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-013-9338-0

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