Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Majadahonda, 28223 Madrid, Spain.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Nov 24;20(23):7106. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20237106.
Normalised family functioning is a predictor of individual well-being. The diagnosis of a family member with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can alter the ordinary dynamics of family systems, having a variable impact on family functioning. This research employed a non-probability convenience sampling method to gather a sample of 327 families with and without children diagnosed with ASD. This study has dual objectives: to analyse the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Family APGAR Scale and to compare family functioning in families with and without a child with ASD. The results reveal several favourable psychometric properties in the application of the APGAR scale within families of children with ASD. The use of the Family APGAR Scale in the selected sample confirms that the functioning of families with children with ASD can be categorized as mildly dysfunctional, attributed to the inherent challenges in caring for and raising a child with ASD. The presence of ASD within family systems presents a challenge to typical family functioning, with significant differences observed between families with and without children with ASD. This underscores the necessity of implementing effective intervention programs based on empirical evidence to improve the quality of life for individuals with ASD and their families.
正常的家庭功能是个体幸福的预测指标。家庭成员被诊断为自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）会改变家庭系统的正常动态，对家庭功能产生不同的影响。本研究采用非概率便利抽样方法，收集了 327 个有和没有被诊断为 ASD 的孩子的家庭样本。本研究有两个目的：分析家庭适应度评估量表（APGAR）西班牙版本的心理测量学特性，并比较有和没有 ASD 儿童的家庭的功能。结果显示，在 ASD 儿童家庭中应用 APGAR 量表具有几个有利的心理测量学特性。在所选样本中使用家庭 APGAR 量表证实，有 ASD 儿童的家庭的功能可以归类为轻度功能障碍，这归因于照顾和抚养 ASD 儿童所固有的挑战。ASD 存在于家庭系统中对典型的家庭功能提出了挑战，有和没有 ASD 儿童的家庭之间存在显著差异。这强调了必须根据实证证据实施有效的干预计划，以提高 ASD 个体及其家庭的生活质量。
