Effects of Parental Intimacy and Self-disclosure on Dyadic Coping in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Entering School

Abstract

Abstract Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive and often difficult health condition, especially during the stage in which children with ASD enter school, which can have ripple effects throughout family relationships. This study applied relational turbulence theory (which addresses communication in intimate relationships) and the actor–partner interdependence model, to examine how self-disclosure communication and relationship intimacy between parents of children with ASD affects dyadic coping during a major transitional period in their child’s life. Transition processing includes parental self-disclosure and parental intimacy, which can help parents navigate difficult life events by promoting connection, interaction, and confidence in the relationship. A total of 201 married couples parenting a child with ASD who was beginning school or who had started school in the past six months completed three questionnaires and provided demographic information. The study examined the effects of partners’ intimacy and disclosure levels on their own and their spouses’ experiences of relational uncertainty, changes in interdependence, and relational turbulence. The findings suggest that parental intimacy and self-disclosure in dyadic coping significantly affect some relationship qualities. In addition, individuals’ perceptions of their spouses’ dyadic coping abilities were a stronger predictor of relational turbulence than self-reported dyadic coping. This study’s results provide several implications for understanding how married partners can protect their marriage when dealing with their child’s health-related transitions.