Self-determination, as a person dispositional characteristic, is indeed influenced by situational characteristics that shape actions across contexts. Research has also reported differences in self-determination as a function of personal factors, but there is a need to integrate this knowledge in a general model aiming to analyse the impact of…

Background: This study investigated associations between the presence of a child with autism or Asperger's disorder in the family, family functioning and grandmother experiences with the goal of better understanding grandparent involvement in the lives of grandchildren on the autism spectrum and their families. Methods: Mothers and grandmothers of…

Background: The idea that raising a child with disabilities has a negative impact on the parents' relationship is still widely accepted despite contradictory research findings. This article addresses the impact of raising a child with disabilities on family structure in the present Norwegian context. Method: Family demographics were collected at…

Background: The purpose of the present study was to determine the stress in mothers whose children have autism and to compare it with the stress in mothers whose children have Down's syndrome. Method: Fifty mothers whose children had autism (n = 25) or Down's syndrome (n = 25) completed the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress (QRS) and answered…