Background
Methods
Participants
Relation to child
|
Number of participants (percentage)
|
Mother | 110 (75%) |
Father | 15 (10%) |
Step mother | 3 (2%) |
Legal guardian | 2 (1%) |
Adoptive mother | 2 (1%) |
Other | 14 (10%) |
Race/ethnicity
|
Number of participants (percentage)
|
African American | 7 (5%) |
Asian/Pacific Islander | 3 (2%) |
Caucasian/European American | 129 (88%) |
Native American | 1 (1%) |
Latino, Hispanic, or Chicano | 1 (1%) |
No answer | 3 (2%) |
Highest level of education
|
Number of participants (percentage)
|
Some high school | 1 (1%) |
High school graduate | 15 (10%) |
Some college | 42 (29%) |
College degree | 40 (27%) |
Some graduate studies | 14 (10%) |
Graduate degree | 32 (22%) |
No answer | 2 (1%) |
Annual Income
|
Number of participants (percentage)
|
Under $20,000 | 7 (5%) |
$20,000–39,999 | 28 (19%) |
$40,000–59,999 | 37 (25%) |
$60,000–79,999 | 27 (18%) |
$80,000–99,999 | 15 (10%) |
$100,000 and above | 20 (14%) |
No answer | 12 (8%) |
Years lived in Virginia
|
Number of participants (percentage)
|
1–10 | 29 (21%) |
11–20 | 23 (17%) |
21–30 | 24 (17%) |
31–40 | 39 (28%) |
41–50 | 14 (10%) |
51 or more | 10 (7%) |
Years in local area
|
Number of participants (percentage)
|
1–10 | 49 (35%) |
11–20 | 45 (32%) |
21–30 | 22 (16%) |
31–40 | 19 (13%) |
41–50 | 4 (3%) |
51 or more | 2 (1%) |
Rural status
|
Number of participants (percentage)
|
Rural | 30 (21%) |
Mixed | 67 (47%) |
Urban | 46 (32%) |
Design and Procedure
Results
Age of diagnosis
Unstandardized Coefficients | Standardized Coefficients | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
B | Std. Error | Beta | t | p-value | |
Rural status | 5.951 | 4.743 | .116 | 1.255 | .212 |
Race | -.867 | 11.156 | -.007 | -.078 | .938 |
Education | 4.094 | 5.673 | .069 | .722 | .472 |
Income | -1.255 | 2.487 | -.050 | -.505 | .615 |
Gender | -.686 | 9.732 | -.006 | -.071 | .944 |
Diagnosis | -10.102 | 4.163 | -.219 | -2.427 | .017 |
Type of Professional | -7.766 | 2.839 | -.249 | -2.735 | .007 |
Information provided by diagnosing professional
Professional Diagnosing the Child
|
Number of participants (percentage)
|
Developmental pediatrician | 63 (43%) |
Psychologist | 24 (16%) |
Neurologist | 25 (17%) |
Primary care physician | 1 (1%) |
Psychiatrist | 9 (6%) |
Other | 18 (12%) |
No answer | 6 (4%) |
Information Provided After Diagnosing the Child
|
Number of participants (percentage)
|
Provided no additional information | 26 (18%) |
Gave information about available resources | 66 (45%) |
Gave literature about autism | 65 (45%) |
Spent time talking about autism | 60 (41%) |
Referred to an autism specialist | 9 (6%) |
Referred to a support group | 14 (10%) |
Advised on educational programs | 50 (34%) |
Advised on medical programs | 22 (15%) |
Other | 21 (14%) |
Who/what helped in learning about ASD
|
Number of participants (percentage)
|
Healthcare professionals | 29 (20%) |
Education professionals | 31 (21%) |
Parent resource centers | 26 (18%) |
Early intervention specialist | 22 (15%) |
Parents of children with Autism | 61 (42%) |
Family member | 12 (8%) |
Friends | 15 (10%) |
Support group | 43 (29%) |
Advocacy group | 25 (17%) |
Internet | 107 (73%) |
Books, magazines, or videotapes | 103 (71%) |
Conferences and workshops | 61 (42%) |
Didn't seek further help | 0 |
Other | 12 (8%) |
Membership status of support groups
|
Number of participants (percentage)
|
Member of an autism specific group | 69 (47%) |
Member of a non-autism specific group | 8 (5%) |
Member of autism and non-autism specific group | 17 (12%) |
Not currently, but member in the past | 11 (8%) |
Never a member | 18 (12%) |
Not currently, but wants to be a member | 21 (14%) |
No answer | 2 (1%) |
Model Fitting Criteria | Likelihood Ratio Tests | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Effect | -2 Log Likelihood of Reduced Model | Chi-Square | Df | p-value. |
Rural Status | 87.012 | 2.207 | 1 | .137 |
Race | 84.826 | .021 | 1 | .884 |
Education | 84.905 | .100 | 1 | .752 |
Income | 86.980 | 2.175 | 1 | .140 |
Gender | 86.325 | 1.519 | 1 | .218 |
Diagnosis | 88.729 | 3.924 | 2 | .141 |
Type of Professional | 109.876 | 25.071 | 3 | .000 |
Sources of information
Service | Number of participants that rated high need (3–5) | Number of participants that rated low in availability (1–2) |
---|---|---|
Behavioral Treatment | 103 (71%) | 62 (42%) |
Social Skills Training | 103 (71%) | 55 (38%) |
Autism Specialty Clinics | 97 (67%) | 68 (46%) |
Diagnostic Services | 96 (66%) | 45 (31%) |
Sensory or Auditory Training | 90 (61%) | 42 (29%) |