Cognitive Coping Strategies and Emotional Distress in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Authors

  • Elena PREDESCU "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj Napoca
  • Anca DOBREAN “Babes Bolyai” University, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
  • Cristina POP “Babes Bolyai” University, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
  • Ioana MICLUTIA "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj Napoca
  • Roxana SIPOS "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj Napoca

Keywords:

Emotional Distress, Irrational Beliefs, Automatic Thoughts, Cognitive Coping, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Abstract

Mothers’ emotional distress,when having a child with diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), isdifferent depending on depending on the thinking pattern (rational orirrational) and cognitive coping strategies used. The aim of this study was to assess irrational beliefs, negativeautomatic thoughts, emotional distress, cognitive coping strategies and therelation between them, in mothers of children with ASD. Datawere collected from 65 mothers having a child with diagnosis of ASD. Several psychologicalinstruments were used to assess the irrational beliefs (ABSs), automatic negativethoughts (ATQ), emotional distress (PAD) and cognitive coping strategies(CERQ). Mothers reported high levels of emotional distress, automatic negative thoughtsand irrational beliefs. The cognitive coping strategies that correlated positivelyand statistically significant with emotional distress were self-blame,catastrophizing and rumination. Self-blame and catastrophizing strategies correlatedpositively and statistically significant with the irrational beliefs. Theresults also suggest that the use of maladaptive coping strategies correlateswith a higher levels of irrational beliefs and emotional distress.

Author Biographies

Elena PREDESCU, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj Napoca

assistant professor, Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry

Anca DOBREAN, “Babes Bolyai” University, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

associate professor, “Babes Bolyai” University, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

Cristina POP, “Babes Bolyai” University, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

PhD student, “Babes Bolyai” University, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

Ioana MICLUTIA, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj Napoca

professor, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj Napoca, Departament of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry

Roxana SIPOS, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj Napoca

assistant professor, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj Napoca, Departament of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry

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Published

06.06.2013

How to Cite

1.
PREDESCU E, DOBREAN A, POP C, MICLUTIA I, SIPOS R. Cognitive Coping Strategies and Emotional Distress in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Appl Med Inform [Internet]. 2013 Jun. 6 [cited 2024 Oct. 4];32(2):14-21. Available from: https://ami.info.umfcluj.ro/index.php/AMI/article/view/415

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