Date of Award

8-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

School

Psychology

Committee Chair

Dr. Stephanie D. Smith

Committee Chair School

Psychology

Committee Member 2

Dr. Sara Jordan

Committee Member 2 School

Psychology

Committee Member 3

Dr. Kristy McRaney

Committee Member 3 School

Psychology

Committee Member 4

Dr. Zachary LaBrot

Committee Member 4 School

Psychology

Abstract

Caregivers of autistic children are not only tasked with deciding upon various treatment options for their children’s symptoms but must also navigate the initial crisis that is experienced after receiving a diagnosis of ASD for their children (Blancher, 1984; Ellis, 1989). Leventhal’s Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation (the CSM; Leventhal et al., 1980) is a theoretical framework developed to understand the self-regulatory processes involved in adapting to and managing health threats and posits that cognitive and emotional illness perceptions influence illness outcomes through coping behaviors. This is the first study to examine all major components of the CSM (i.e., cognitive and emotional illness perceptions and coping behaviors) in relation to treatment seeking behaviors in caregivers of autistic children. Specifically, the current study examined whether coping behaviors and caregiver resolve with the ASD diagnosis jointly mediate the path between caregiver illness perceptions and caregiver treatment seeking behaviors. A sample of 288 caregivers of autistic children completed measures assessing illness perceptions of ASD, caregiver coping behaviors, resolve with their children’s ASD diagnosis, and information on intentions to seek treatment. Although the full CSM was not supported, results did reveal that problem-focused coping behaviors mediated the path between caregivers’ perceptions of the unpredictable nature of their children’s ASD symptoms and their intentions to seek treatment for their children. Further, caregivers’ perceptions about the controllability of their children’s ASD symptoms was the only illness perception directly related to treatment seeking behaviors. Based on these findings, it is recommended that providers assess and then use strategies to potentially modify aspects of caregivers’ cognitions and coping behaviors during ASD feedback sessions as a means to promote prompt treatment seeking for their autistic children.

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