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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Parent Perspectives On How The Covid-19 Pandemic Affected Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Their Children, Desiree Marie Vanderlick
Parent Perspectives On How The Covid-19 Pandemic Affected Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Their Children, Desiree Marie Vanderlick
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Autism is a disorder that is characterized by struggles with socialization anddevelopmental delays that often involve much guidance and support. The purpose of this study was to explain the experience of parents as they attempted to manage behaviors related to symptoms of autism during the worldwide quarantine prompted by COVID-19. This study aimed to close the gap in literature and explore to see if there were any concerns that could be addressed by future studies. The study was framed around Bowen’s theory, which addresses emotions within a family unit, and the interdependence theory, which addresses how humans thrive to be …
Help-Seeking And Stigma Experienced By Arab American Immigrant Parents Of Children With Autism, April Demasters
Help-Seeking And Stigma Experienced By Arab American Immigrant Parents Of Children With Autism, April Demasters
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Because of cultural and religious norms and associated stigma, some parents of a child with a mental illness or developmental disorder are hesitant to seek help for their child. The purpose of the study is to better understand how religious and ethnic culture reinforces stigma and its impact on a parent’s decision to seek help. This phenomenological qualitative study was conducted with Muslim Arab American immigrant parents, including first and second generations, in the United States who had a child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within the last 15 years. Semistructured interviews were conducted to gather data exploring …
Exploring Goal Setting And Motivational Experiences For Adult Workers With Autism, Daniel Ball
Exploring Goal Setting And Motivational Experiences For Adult Workers With Autism, Daniel Ball
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
AbstractWhile the heterogeneity of autism for adults has been much more accepted over the past 40 years, research still has a broad gap to fill as there is scarce empirical evidence on how interventions, such as motivational tactics, need to be adapted to meet individual abilities and needs. Also, the number of workers entering the workforce each year is growing as a ratio. It is posited by various authors that one in 52 people are now diagnosed as having the disorder and this number has doubled over the past decade. Furthermore, 80% of this population is underemployed or unemployed, representing …
Exploring Goal Setting And Motivational Experiences For Adult Workers With Autism, Daniel Ball
Exploring Goal Setting And Motivational Experiences For Adult Workers With Autism, Daniel Ball
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
AbstractWhile the heterogeneity of autism for adults has been much more accepted over the past 40 years, research still has a broad gap to fill as there is scarce empirical evidence on how interventions, such as motivational tactics, need to be adapted to meet individual abilities and needs. Also, the number of workers entering the workforce each year is growing as a ratio. It is posited by various authors that one in 52 people are now diagnosed as having the disorder and this number has doubled over the past decade. Furthermore, 80% of this population is underemployed or unemployed, representing …
Parent Perspectives On How The Covid-19 Pandemic Affected Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Their Children, Desiree Marie Vanderlick
Parent Perspectives On How The Covid-19 Pandemic Affected Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Their Children, Desiree Marie Vanderlick
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Autism is a disorder that is characterized by struggles with socialization anddevelopmental delays that often involve much guidance and support. The purpose of this study was to explain the experience of parents as they attempted to manage behaviors related to symptoms of autism during the worldwide quarantine prompted by COVID-19. This study aimed to close the gap in literature and explore to see if there were any concerns that could be addressed by future studies. The study was framed around Bowen’s theory, which addresses emotions within a family unit, and the interdependence theory, which addresses how humans thrive to be …
Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder And The Impact Of Environment On Treatment Outcomes, James Adkins
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) effects growing numbers of children and effective treatment is essential for families to overcome the challenges associated with ASD. Applied behavior analysis treatment has been tailored to address the unique learning needs of children with ASD. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which treatment environment impacted language milestones and barriers among children with ASD. Behaviorism and applied behavior analysis served as the framework for the study. A nonexperimental quantitative mixed design with two independent variables was used. The between-subjects independent variable was type of treatment environment (home vs. clinic). The within-subjects …
Effects Of Superflex Curriculum On Social Skills Of Children With Autism, Charli Elaine Doyle
Effects Of Superflex Curriculum On Social Skills Of Children With Autism, Charli Elaine Doyle
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is considered an applied science under the umbrella of behavior analysis and was accepted into the mainstream science in the mid-1900s. An increase in the prevalence of autism gave rise to the need for evidence-based social skills curricula. Previous research indicated many children respond well to video modeling and positive reinforcement. However, literature on social curricula for children aged 7 to 10 years in a clinical setting versus a school setting was limited. The purpose of this quantitative study with a single-subject design was to examine the effectiveness of Superflex, a superhero social thinking curriculum, on …
Stimulus Pairing To Condition Novel Reinforcers For Bermudian Participants With Autism, Jahnae Harvey
Stimulus Pairing To Condition Novel Reinforcers For Bermudian Participants With Autism, Jahnae Harvey
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Reinforcement is crucial to an individual’s quality of life and acquisition/maintenance of novel skills, but a limited bank of reinforcers could lead to a reduction in engagement with pre-established reinforcers, reducing the motivational strength to contrive teaching opportunities, and increase maladaptive behaviors, self-stimulatory behaviors, or idle time. Though the stimulus-stimulus paring (SSP) method has been effective in establishing novel reinforcers for individuals who are diagnosed with autism, there is a gap in the literature on cross-cultural variations seen among responses when using SSP. This study was conducted to determine the generalizability of the effect when using the method of SSP …
Exploration Of The Cultural Perspectives Of Caregivers Of African American And African Children With Delayed Diagnosis Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Deirdre Marie Johnson-Taylor
Exploration Of The Cultural Perspectives Of Caregivers Of African American And African Children With Delayed Diagnosis Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Deirdre Marie Johnson-Taylor
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
AbstractThrough the lens of Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory, the purpose of the study was to explore African American and African caregivers’ perceptions of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), child development knowledge, religious/traditional beliefs, and fear of stigma within the context of their culture. African and African American children with ASD are identified at later ages than Caucasian children by 1 1/2 to 2 years. Disparities in educational and social outcomes of African and African American children with ASD may be related to this identification delay. Current literature regarding African and African American caregivers’ perceptions of children with ASD is sparse. An ethnographic …
The Use Of Appraisal By Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Denise Victoria Wright
The Use Of Appraisal By Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Denise Victoria Wright
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects 1% of the world population and places caregivers at an increased risk of stress. Researchers have begun to explore coping mechanisms such as appraisal to understand how parents and caregivers of people with ASD cope with parental stress, but their results have been inconsistent. There was a gap in existing literature regarding the influence of ASD symptoms on the relationship between use of appraisal (reframing negative concepts into a more favorable light), and parental stress. The ABCX model of family adaptation was used to understand how coping skills might protect …
Exposure Response Prevention For Adolescents With High-Functioning Autism And Social Anxiety, Elisha Jones
Exposure Response Prevention For Adolescents With High-Functioning Autism And Social Anxiety, Elisha Jones
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Anxiety disorders are the most common comorbid mental health condition seen in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. This study was an exploration of the benefits of exposure and response prevention (ERP) for high-functioning adolescents with autism and comorbid social anxiety. The research problem was the lack of qualitative description of trained clinicians’ experiences of ERP delivery to high-functioning adolescents with autism and social anxiety. Data for this study were collected through semi structured interviews with six ERP clinicians who had experience in practicing ERP with this population. Analysis of the data revealed the following four core themes: (a) professional recommendations for …
Treatment Efficacy Of Parent-Led Aba For Children With Autism And Their Parents, Lindsey Renee Sneed
Treatment Efficacy Of Parent-Led Aba For Children With Autism And Their Parents, Lindsey Renee Sneed
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex and heterogenous, neurodevelopmental disorder. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a common treatment modality for children with autism with marked improvements demonstrated in communication, social, and adaptive functioning. The most common implementation of ABA is a practitioner-led model, whereby a paraprofessional directly implements treatment with the oversight of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst®. Parent mediated treatments are another model proving to be efficacious for children with autism and their parents. While this model is applied in therapeutic treatments such as speech pathology, early intervention, and other behavioral approaches (e.g., ESDM, PRT), parent mediated treatment has …
Experience Of Parents Receiving In-Home Behavioral Treatment For Their Child With Autism, Gerald Lavarias
Experience Of Parents Receiving In-Home Behavioral Treatment For Their Child With Autism, Gerald Lavarias
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In-home applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment has well-documented results and is widely recommended for children with autism. Since 1987, parents have sought and implemented ABA treatment in their homes for their children with autism. However, research on parents’ lived experiences with in-home ABA treatment is limited. As such, there is a need to study the impact and influence of ABA treatment on parents’ quality of life (e.g., challenges, scheduling, parenting). This qualitative study explored parents’ lived experiences while their children with autism received in-home ABA treatment. A phenomenological approach was used to explore the experiences of 5 parent participants who …
African American Fathers Raising An Autistic Child, Shannon Latoya Burns-Darden
African American Fathers Raising An Autistic Child, Shannon Latoya Burns-Darden
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Parents of a child diagnosed with autism have a high risk for physical and emotional stress with mental health difficulties. Little research exists regarding fathers with an autistic child, and less information exists on African American fathers who struggle with coping and finding appropriate interventions and resources for raising an autistic child. The purpose of this interpretative, phenomenological study was to analyze the lived experiences of 12 African American fathers raising their child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This study's theoretical lens was Bowen's family systems theory. The data from this study consisted of 12 interviews with African American fathers …
The Impact Of Peer-Mediated Video Modeling On Social Interactions Of Adolescent Males Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cheryl Marie Botting-Hammack
The Impact Of Peer-Mediated Video Modeling On Social Interactions Of Adolescent Males Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cheryl Marie Botting-Hammack
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Individuals with ASD demonstrate deficits in social communication and social interaction. Video modeling (VM) has been successful in teaching new skills through short, targeted videos. Prior research in VM heavily focused on academic settings with primary age children. There is a gap in the literature on teaching social skills in natural settings to adolescents with ASD. The current research used a single- subject, multiple-baseline design to examine the impact of VM on the social behaviors of adolescent males, diagnosed with ASD, in natural social settings. The data were acquired from a developmental disability agency licensed and authorized by the Idaho …
Parent Stress Adaptation Among Caregivers Of Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Victoria M. Ambrus
Parent Stress Adaptation Among Caregivers Of Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Victoria M. Ambrus
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This study was a nonexperimental correlational study that took a strengths-based approach and utilized family systems theories to examine parenting stress, as measured by the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, and posttraumatic growth (PTG), as measured by the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the relationship between the two constructs. The study was conducted with a national sample of 136 maternal caregivers of transition-age youth on the autism spectrum (ASD), ages 14 to 22 years, recruited through social media, flyers, and referrals. Participants were primarily biological mothers (83.9%), White (87.5%), and resided in the South (68.4%); the mean age of the adolescent with …
Problem Behavior Of A Child With Autism And Problem Behavior Of A Typically-Developing Sibling Moderated By Maternal Parenting Stress, Jennifer Torchetti
Problem Behavior Of A Child With Autism And Problem Behavior Of A Typically-Developing Sibling Moderated By Maternal Parenting Stress, Jennifer Torchetti
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Drawing on Bowen's family systems theory, this study was designed to fill a gap in research regarding how raising a child with autism impacts the systemic functioning of a family unit, and provide evidence of the need for more comprehensive resources and support for families of children with autism. In this study, families of children with autism were invited to complete the Parenting Stress Index and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. These measures were used to determine the relationship between the level of problem behavior of a child with autism and the level of problem behavior of a typically-developing sibling …
Neurodevelopmental Basis Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Based On Age And Gender, Sursatie Chetram
Neurodevelopmental Basis Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Based On Age And Gender, Sursatie Chetram
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, socialization, and restricted/repetitive behaviors. In 2012, one out of every 55 children (1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls) have been diagnosed with ASD in the United States. Only 30-40% of ASD has a known etiology (e.g., genetic predisposition) and the other 60-70% is unknown. Prior to this study, there was no known literature on age and gender differences related to neuro-developmental functioning of ASD. The purpose of this study was to examine how the differences in age and gender of people with ASD were related to …
Personal Meanings Of Restricted And Repetitive Behaviors Among Midlife Adults With Asperger Syndrome, Leila Marie Shirley
Personal Meanings Of Restricted And Repetitive Behaviors Among Midlife Adults With Asperger Syndrome, Leila Marie Shirley
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are some of the hallmark features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptomatology. There is a knowledge gap on RRBs in adults with ASD because most of the research has focused on children and adolescents. The few studies conducted on adults with ASD have included conflicting results and variable information, especially regarding the developmental trajectories of RRBs. Therefore, this study was designed to address the lived experiences of RRBs in midlife adults with Asperger syndrome. This study was guided by the conceptual frameworks of Dunn's model of sensory processing, the 2-factor model of RRBs, and phenomenological …
The Efficacy Of Neurofeedback In The Treatment Of Autism., Rosemary Akhavan
The Efficacy Of Neurofeedback In The Treatment Of Autism., Rosemary Akhavan
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Autism is a disorder that impairs the development of a person's ability to interact with other people and to relate productively with the outside world. There are many types of interventions being used to treat autism, but there are no cures or definitive treatments for this disorder. A biological theoretical foundation was the basis of this study, as recent neuroimaging techniques have demonstrated that autism is a neurological disorder that reveals distinct abnormalities in the brain. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of neurofeedback (NFB) in the treatment of autism. NFB has shown promise of improving …
Lived Experiences Of Mothers Raising Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Nigeria, Joyce Itseme Ulofoshio
Lived Experiences Of Mothers Raising Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Nigeria, Joyce Itseme Ulofoshio
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Autism has no cure, but early and appropriate diagnosis and intervention may increase outcomes for individuals affected. The level of awareness, acceptance, and support for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Nigeria is very low. There is a gap in the literature regarding a detailed account of the experiences of parents raising children with ASD within the Nigerian environment and culture. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of mothers raising children with ASD in Nigeria including the impact of Nigerian culture on their experiences. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory was the guiding conceptual framework …
The Lived Experiences Of Low Income Parents Of Children With Autism, Renee L. Sullivan
The Lived Experiences Of Low Income Parents Of Children With Autism, Renee L. Sullivan
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Previous studies indicated that parents raising children with autism (CWA) experience higher rates of stress; however, no qualitative studies have addressed low-income parents' lived experiences of raising CWA. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the challenges that low-income parents of CWA face daily within the framework of family systems theory and biopsychosocial theory. Research questions focused on the impact of income and the core symptoms of autism (social deficits, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors) on marital and interpersonal relationships. Semistructured interviews with 13 parents were conducted, and transcripts were analyzed for themes using a 4-step process. …
Parents' Perception Of A School-Based Inclusion Program For Their Children With Autism, Sarah Lynn Ary
Parents' Perception Of A School-Based Inclusion Program For Their Children With Autism, Sarah Lynn Ary
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
As the number of students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) increases, many classrooms are turning to an inclusion model of learning. To gain the perspective of program users rather than providers, this study explored parents' perceptions of the inclusion model. Pearlin's stress process model served as the theoretical framework for this study. Ten parents in Pennsylvania were recruited via snowball sampling for participation, and 7 completed the study. Parents completed a short demographic questionnaire and then participated in individual interviews. The research questions were concerned with the lived experiences of parents of children with autism enrolled in inclusion programs …
Evaluating The Efficacy Of Video Self-Modeling For Remediating Dysgraphia In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Geri Maria Harris
Evaluating The Efficacy Of Video Self-Modeling For Remediating Dysgraphia In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Geri Maria Harris
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Writing is essential to human interaction. When handwriting is illegible, communication may be negatively impacted. A severe deficit in handwriting is known as dysgraphia, a problem frequently associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Video self-modeling (VSM) has been proven effective for children with ASD in the strengthening of social skills, verbalizations, and daily living skills. However, there remains a significant gap in the literature regarding the use of VSM for the treatment of dysgraphia in children with ASD. Because VSM has demonstrated success in the acquisition of many types of skills, it may prove similarly effective for remediating dysgraphia in …
Examining Maternal Psychological Recollections Of Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Christine Desiree Shoop
Examining Maternal Psychological Recollections Of Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Christine Desiree Shoop
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Mothers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and despair stemming from the challenges of raising offspring with behavioral, communicative, and socioemotional impairments. Researchers have shown that children diagnosed with ASDs exhibit symptoms within the first year of life (early-onset), while some exhibit normal development until the second year (regressive-onset), and some exhibit normal development until the second year but display abnormalities in the first year (mixed-onset). Despite the wealth of research on ASDs, there are few examinations of ASD symptom onset groups and the impact of those onset groups on parental psychological …
Clinician Perspectives Of Adult High-Functioning Autism Support Groups' Use Of Neurodiversity Concept, Gwendolyn Spencer Barnhart
Clinician Perspectives Of Adult High-Functioning Autism Support Groups' Use Of Neurodiversity Concept, Gwendolyn Spencer Barnhart
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Ample research has examined the impact of autism for children and families, but less has addressed the effects of this condition for adults. The literature indicates that adults on the autism spectrum suffer from depression and have a heightened risk of suicidal ideation because of their social skills deficits. Research also shows that individuals with high-functioning autism (HFA) can benefit from participating in support groups. In addition, research indicates that use of the term "neurodiversity" rather than other diagnostic labels encourages increased self-esteem to persons on the autism spectrum. This grounded theory study sought to understand the belief of clinicians …
Exploring Barriers To Fathers' Implementation Of Behavioral Interventions For Nonverbal Children With Autism, Michael Lafasakis
Exploring Barriers To Fathers' Implementation Of Behavioral Interventions For Nonverbal Children With Autism, Michael Lafasakis
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Many families, regardless of their ethnic and cultural background, find it challenging to raise a nonverbal child with autism. Parent-implemented behavioral interventions can contribute to positive behavior change related to joint attention, imitation, and communication. However, many parents face barriers that prevent them from implementing behavioral interventions in the home. Very little research has been conducted on fathers of nonverbal children with autism to ascertain their perspectives on these barriers. In this qualitative study, a phenomenological design was used to obtain input from 12 fathers of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds residing in New York City regarding barriers to implementing …
Examining Paraprofessionals' Use Of Video Self-Modeling In Teaching Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Derrainnya Raquel Fuentes
Examining Paraprofessionals' Use Of Video Self-Modeling In Teaching Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Derrainnya Raquel Fuentes
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The number of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases has surged in the U.S. educational system since the mid-2000s. At the same, paraprofessionals who work with these students are not being given adequate training, especially in how to implement applied behavior analytic services. To address paraprofessional's inadequate training, new behavioral treatments have surfaced, including Video Self-Modeling (VSM). VSM is an effective intervention tool derived heavily from Bandura's social learning theory. VSM uses edited video clips in which paraprofessionals view him or herself correctly performing target skills. This study used a single-subject, modified multiple baseline design to evaluate whether VSM could improve …
Title: Parents And Teachers’ Perceptions And Clinical Diagnosis Of Autism Among White And Non-White Groups, Margaret Gopaul
Title: Parents And Teachers’ Perceptions And Clinical Diagnosis Of Autism Among White And Non-White Groups, Margaret Gopaul
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The pervasiveness of autism has significantly increased over the past 2 decades with the 2014 Center for Disease Control and Prevention report indicating 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Early intervention is recommended as the most effective treatment approach. Nevertheless, previous research has indicated that White children are diagnosed with ASD about 1.5 years earlier than are Non-White children. A current gap remains in literature regarding ASD and different racial groups, and evidence has been inconclusive regarding disparities in identifying and diagnosing ASD. To fill this gap, this study investigated the relationship between child race, …
Attitudes Of Nigerian Mothers Toward Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Valentine Ntoo Chukwueloka
Attitudes Of Nigerian Mothers Toward Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Valentine Ntoo Chukwueloka
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a form of developmental disability that affects many children in the U.S. and abroad. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has indicated that 1 out of every 68 children is diagnosed with ASD in the United States. However, there was limited literature about the attitudinal dispositions of Nigerian mothers toward children with ASD and their lived experiences with a child with autism. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the attitudes of Nigerian mothers toward their children with autism. The theoretical foundation of this study was the variation of the social relational understanding …