Exploring Family Resilience and Connectedness During a Pandemic in Families Raising a Child with a Neurodevelopmental Disorder

Families have been significantly affected by coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and those raising a child with a Neurodevelopmental Disorder (NDD) may be particularly vulnerable to negative consequences from the health catastrophe. Family resilience is a contributing factor to a family's strength in time of hardship and refers to the family’s “ability, as a functional system, to withstand and rebound from adversity” (Walsh, 2003, page 1). Additionally, a family’s connectedness (e.g., closeness, support, warmth, responsiveness; Manzi & Brambilla, 2014) can help bolster family resilience (Garner & Yogman, 2021). This study sought to first identify how the pandemic has affected families of children with an NDD compared to their neurotypical peers. Second, we wanted to understand whether differences in family resilience and ratings of connectedness existed between the two groups. Third, we analyzed whether family resilience and connectedness were associated with pandemic impact. Finally, we wanted to test whether the relationship between family resilience, connectedness, and pandemic impact was moderated (e.g., strengthened, diminished, or negated) by whether the family had a child with an NDD diagnosis. Caregivers completed questionnaires of family demographics, pandemic impact, and family resilience. Regarding differences in how the pandemic impacted families, our findings did not suggest that a significant difference existed in how the pandemic impacted (cumulative, indirect, and direct) either group. Next, we analyzed if there was a difference in ratings of overall family resilience between groups, but there was no significant difference in scores. Similarly, there was no significant relationship between family resilience and cumulative pandemic impact. However, there was a moderate, negative correlation between family resilience and indirect pandemic impact, and similar results were found regarding connectedness. Finally, group membership did not moderate the relationship between family resilience and pandemic impact. Implications for how mental health providers can foster and reinforce resilience of all families will be discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Clinical Psychology (UMKC)

Grantor

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Collins, Jennifer Olivia

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hambrick, Erin

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/95887

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/95887