The Analysis Of Influencing Mechanism And Effectiveness Of Empowerment Of Families With Autistic Children

Autism,due to its complexity and uncurable nature,has hindered the growth and development of autistic children and negatively affected the quality of family life.The emergence of the concept of family empowerment marks that the research orientation of families with autistic children has changed from a “weak perspective” to a “strong perspective”,which can reflect that the family acquires knowledge,skills and resources to actively control the state of life and subjectively experiences the “sense of power”.However,researches on family empowerment of autistic children are still in its infancy in China,lacking objective description of the level and characteristics of family empowerment,and the influencing mechansim and effectiveness of family empowerment need to be explored.In view of this,this study is composed of three parts: “the status and traits of family empowerment of autistic children”,“the influencing mechanism of different factors on family empowerment of autistic children” and “the effecttiveness of family empowerment of autistic children”.This study adopted the method of random sampling on a national scale to select 477 families with autistic child.The Autistic Child Family Basic Information Questionnaire,Empowerment Scale,Parenting Stress Index,Social Support Scale,Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire and Family Quality of Life Scale were issued to them.The level and characteristics of family empowerment were described quantitatively,the differences of family empowerment under different objective factors were compared,the influence mechanism of parenting stress,social support and coping style on family empowerment was analyzed;the effect of family empowerment on the quality of family life was explored.On this basis,it provides suggestions for the family empowerment of autistic children.The results show that:(1)the family empowerment of autistic children is above the average level,which is reflected in the aspects of self-efficacy,self-decision-making,influence,access to resources,empowerment and community participation.However,the self-advocacy performance is below the average level;(2)in terms of child factors,the family empowerment level decreases with the growth of children's age.Children's participation in school learning can improve the level of family empowerment.(3)in terms of parents,father's evaluation of family empowerment level is higher than mother's.Family empowerment level decreases with the growth of mother's age.Parents engaged in civil servants,teachers,medical staff,business and other occupations or who are full-time at home can improve the family empowerment level.(4)in terms of internal family factors,urban families have a higher family empowerment level than rural families,and the increase in the number of children in the family will reduce the family empowerment level;(5)in terms of family external factors,active participation in mutual aid organizations and public welfare activities helps improve the family empowerment level.The enjoyment of social welfare has a positive impact on family empowerment;(6)in terms of the psychological influence mechanism of family empowerment,parenting stress has a negative impact on family empowerment.Good social support enables families to actively cope with pressure and improve the family empowerment level.(7)in terms of the effect of family empowerment on the quality of family life,serious parenting stress leads to the decline of quality of family life,and family empowerment level will be increase by obtaining effective social support and finally alleviate parenting stress and improve the quality of family life.To some extent,this study complements and improves the existing studies on family empowerment of autistic children and has theoretical value.On the basis of empirical research,it provides practical guidance for the improvement of family empowerment level.Family empowerment inspires autistic child families' endogenous impetus,objectively makes them get sufficient resources,adequate ability,and sense of power.Combined with China's poverty alleviation,moral support and intellectual support as an era background,it is helpful to improve the disadvantaged status and quality of life of families with autistic children and promote social harmony.