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Via SibParent; this is apparently a press release from Kennedy Krieger

Institute.

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80 Percent Autism Divorce Rate Debunked in First-Of-Its Kind Scientific Study

Kennedy Krieger researchers find autism does not affect family structure

For Immediate Release: May 19, 2010

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Having a child with autism can put stress on the parents’

marriage, and a frequently cited statistic leads to a common perception that the

divorce rate among these families is as high as 80 percent. But a study to be

released at a news conference today by researchers from Kennedy Krieger

Institute in Baltimore found that a child’s autism has no effect on the family

structure.

Freedman, PhD, lead author of the study and clinical director of the

Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute, said the

findings seem to debunk a lot of the general understanding about high divorce

rates among parents of children with autism. Dr. Freedman and his research team

found that 64 percent of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) belong

to a family with two married biological or adoptive parents, compared with 65

percent of children who do not have an ASD.

Dr. Freedman will present results of the study in Philadelphia at the

International Meeting for Autism Research, an annual scientific meeting convened

to exchange new scientific progress among autism researchers from around the

world.

Receiving the news of a child’s autism diagnosis can be devastating, and Dr.

Freedman said the pain is compounded as parents ponder what will happen to them

as a couple. “In the work I’ve done with children with autism, I’ve come

across many couples who quote this 80 percent divorce rate to me. They don’t

know what the future holds for their child, and feel a sense of hopelessness

about the future of their marriage as well — almost like getting a diagnosis

of autism and a diagnosis of divorce at the same time,†he said.

With very little empirical and no epidemiological research addressing the issue

of separation and divorce among parents of children with autism, researchers

sought to more scientifically examine the incidence. Using data from the 2007

National Survey of Children’s Health[1

<http://www.kennedykrieger.org/kki_news.jsp?pid=8851#footnote> ] , they examined

a nationally representative sample of 77,911 children, ages 3 to 17.

Previous research speaks to the fact that parenting a child with autism is

stressful, and it puts pressure on the marriage. Dr. Freedman noted that past

studies have found couples with a child with autism experience more stress in

their marriage than couples with typically developing children or couples with

children with other types of developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome.

Mothers of children with autism report more depression than those with typically

developing children, while fathers report they deal with the stress by

distancing themselves and becoming less involved with the family.

“While there are indeed stressors in parenting a child with autism, it

doesn’t necessarily result in the family breaking up more often than would

occur in another family,†said Dr. Freedman. “And as someone who works with

a team of health care professionals to treat and provide support for families of

children with autism, it’s important for us to make sure our patients’

parents know that, and for our fellow clinicians to provide reliable,

evidence-based information about the divorce rate among this population as

well.â€

This analysis of the National Survey of Children’s Health data showed there

are certain factors in a family that can contribute to divorce, such as having a

child with particularly challenging behaviors, with or without autism. For some

families, the challenges of parenting a child with special needs may indeed

result in straining the marriage to the breaking point. Further research is

needed to understand the relationships among in-tact families with children with

autism to identify how they work through the challenges.

“I would hope this research drives home the importance of providing support

to these families, and letting them know that their relationships can survive

these stressors,†he said. “We should continue to provide training for

parents so that they can work through the stressors in their relationship to

keep their family together and have a successful marriage.â€

Dr. Freedman’s presentation will be held on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.

ET during the Epidemiology 2 Session in the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown,

Grand Ballroom CD Level 5 room.

In addition to Freedman, the research team includes Luther Kalb, of Kennedy

Krieger Institute; and Ben Zablotsky and Dr. Stuart, of s Hopkins

Bloomberg School of Public Health.

--About Autism--

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is the nation’s fastest growing developmental

disorder, with current incidence rates estimated at 1 in 100 children. This year

more children will be diagnosed with autism than AIDS, diabetes and cancer

combined, yet profound gaps remain in our understanding of both the causes and

cures of the disorder. Continued research and education about developmental

disruptions in individuals with ASD is crucial, as early detection and

intervention can lead to improved outcomes in individuals with ASD.

--About Kennedy Krieger Institute--

Internationally recognized for improving the lives of children and adolescents

with disorders and injuries of the brain and spinal cord, the Kennedy Krieger

Institute in Baltimore, MD serves more than 13,000 individuals each year through

inpatient and outpatient clinics, home and community services and school-based

programs. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children with

developmental concerns mild to severe, and is home to a team of investigators

who are contributing to the understanding of how disorders develop while

pioneering new interventions and earlier diagnosis. For more information on

Kennedy Krieger Institute, visit www.kennedykrieger.org

<http://www.kennedykrieger.org/> .