Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Assessing Expressed Emotion Influences On Autistic Symptoms/Behaviors: A School Social Worker Perspective, Mackenzie R. Flaharty

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This research paper explores how components of Expressed Emotion (Critical Comments, Emotional Over-involvement, Warmth) experienced in the classroom are influencing student behavior and symptoms for students with Autism. Qualitative data was collected from one school social worker. This study confirms and builds upon previous research on Critical Comments and Warmth. Critical comments, especially when delivered by a staff member poorly, increased maladaptive behavior and decreased social interaction and communication. Warmth inversely decreased maladaptive behaviors while increasing communication and social interaction. Emotional Over-involvement was dependent upon the individual student and neither confirms or rejects previous research. Each member of the classroom …

Sibling Relationships With An Autistic Sibling, Lori M. Kaplan

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study was conducted to determine how typically developing siblings feel about their sibling with Autism or another related disorder. The methods used were a combination of quantitative data and qualitative interviews. The quantitative data consisted of basic demographic data about the family such as the parent’s marital status, household members, and the diagnosis of the Autistic child. The qualitative data consisted of interviews with one or two typical siblings from that family.

This study interviewed eight typical siblings from six different families with an Autistic child: two of the siblings were brothers and six were sisters of a child …

Behavior & Developmental Treatment Models For Autism Spectrum Disorders: Factors Guiding Clinician Preference And Perceptions, James E. Nee

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

1 in 88 children are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, a condition that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate and relate socially to other people, as well as cause a person to partake in repetitive or stereotyped behaviors. There are several interventions parents and professionals can utilize to remediate the three core deficits of Autism, however the theories behind what should be focused on in these treatment models are very different. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the factors that guide clinicians’ preferences and perceptions of a behavioral and developmental model as well as analyzed the interventions for autistic …

Parental Involvement In Early Intervention Programs For Children With Autism, Kaylee A. Nelson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Research shows that increased parental involvement has a positive impact on children with autism; however, there is a need for continued research pertaining to how their involvement improves and/or influences outcomes of their children with autism (Walker, Wilkins, Dallaire, Sandler, & Hoover-Dempsey, 2005). This study set out to investigate the ways in which parents of children (ages 2-7) with autism are involved in their children’s early intervention program(s) and how this involvement influences their child’s social skills and behavior. More specially, this study explored the association between parental involvement and the behavior and social skills of children with autism receiving …

Divorce Mediation And Its Impact On Children, Brianna L. Nelson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The percentage of children experiencing divorce in the United States and around the world has dramatically increased in the last fifty years and currently affects one million children every year. Divorce mediation can be helpful and beneficial for families when resolving emotional and familial conflict, which could decrease the negative effects divorce can have on children. This research aims to address the decision making process that mediators use when deciding to include children in the mediation process. A qualitative study was conducted, in which professional mediators were interviewed regarding the decision making process used to determine whether or not children …