Divorce Rates of Parents of Autistic Children

80 Percent Autism Divorce Rate Debunked in First-Of-Its Kind Scientific Study
Kennedy Krieger researchers find autism does not affect family structure
Press Release
For Immediate Release: May 19, 2010

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Having a child with autism can put stress on the parents’ marriage, and a frequently cited statistic leads to a common perception that the divorce rate among these families is as high as 80 percent. But a study to be released at a news conference today by researchers from Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore found that a child’s autism has no effect on the family structure.

Brian Freedman, PhD, lead author of the study and clinical director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute, said the findings seem to debunk a lot of the general understanding about high divorce rates among parents of children with autism. Dr. Freedman and his research team found that 64 percent of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) belong to a family with two married biological or adoptive parents, compared with 65 percent of children who do not have an ASD.

Dr. Freedman will present results of the study in Philadelphia at the International Meeting for Autism Research, an annual scientific meeting convened to exchange new scientific progress among autism researchers from around the world.

Receiving the news of a child’s autism diagnosis can be devastating, and Dr. Freedman said the pain is compounded as parents ponder what will happen to them as a couple. “In the work I’ve done with children with autism, I’ve come across many couples who quote this 80 percent divorce rate to me. They don’t know what the future holds for their child, and feel a sense of hopelessness about the future of their marriage as well — almost like getting a diagnosis of autism and a diagnosis of divorce at the same time,” he said.

With very little empirical and no epidemiological research addressing the issue of separation and divorce among parents of children with autism, researchers sought to more scientifically examine the incidence. Using data from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health[1] , they examined a nationally representative sample of 77,911 children, ages 3 to 17.

Previous research speaks to the fact that parenting a child with autism is stressful, and it puts pressure on the marriage. Dr. Freedman noted that past studies have found couples with a child with autism experience more stress in their marriage than couples with typically developing children or couples with children with other types of developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome. Mothers of children with autism report more depression than those with typically developing children, while fathers report they deal with the stress by distancing themselves and becoming less involved with the family.

“While there are indeed stressors in parenting a child with autism, it doesn’t necessarily result in the family breaking up more often than would occur in another family,” said Dr. Freedman. “And as someone who works with a team of health care professionals to treat and provide support for families of children with autism, it’s important for us to make sure our patients’ parents know that, and for our fellow clinicians to provide reliable, evidence-based information about the divorce rate among this population as well.”

This analysis of the National Survey of Children’s Health data showed there are certain factors in a family that can contribute to divorce, such as having a child with particularly challenging behaviors, with or without autism. For some families, the challenges of parenting a child with special needs may indeed result in straining the marriage to the breaking point. Further research is needed to understand the relationships among in-tact families with children with autism to identify how they work through the challenges.

“I would hope this research drives home the importance of providing support to these families, and letting them know that their relationships can survive these stressors,” he said. “We should continue to provide training for parents so that they can work through the stressors in their relationship to keep their family together and have a successful marriage.”

Dr. Freedman’s presentation will be held on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. ET during the Epidemiology 2 Session in the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Grand Ballroom CD Level 5 room.

In addition to Freedman, the research team includes Luther Kalb, of Kennedy Krieger Institute; and Ben Zablotsky and Dr. Elizabeth Stuart, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

About Autism
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is the nation’s fastest growing developmental disorder, with current incidence rates estimated at 1 in 100 children. This year more children will be diagnosed with autism than AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined, yet profound gaps remain in our understanding of both the causes and cures of the disorder. Continued research and education about developmental disruptions in individuals with ASD is crucial, as early detection and intervention can lead to improved outcomes in individuals with ASD.

About Kennedy Krieger Institute
Internationally recognized for improving the lives of children and adolescents with disorders and injuries of the brain and spinal cord, the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD serves more than 13,000 individuals each year through inpatient and outpatient clinics, home and community services and school-based programs. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children with developmental concerns mild to severe, and is home to a team of investigators who are contributing to the understanding of how disorders develop while pioneering new interventions and earlier diagnosis. For more information on Kennedy Krieger Institute, visit www.kennedykrieger.org.

Celebrities Spread the Word on Autism

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), an average of 1 in 110 children has been diagnosed with some form of autism, bringing the estimated number of people in the United States who suffer from this disorder to between 1.5 and 2 million. It also affects untold numbers of family and friends, and celebrities are no exception. In recent years, many celebrities have come forward to speak about autism and how it has affected their lives and the lives of their family members. Luckily, many of them have opted to use their influence on behalf of autism acceptance and education, and they’re making a real difference.

The most notable and outspoken celebrity on this topic is probably Jenny McCarthy, who has become known in recent years as the face of autism. Her son, Evan, was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. She famously spoke about it on Oprah in 2007 and then began chronicling her journey to get him treatment in 2008’s Louder Than Words and 2009’s Mother Warriors: A Nation of Parents Healing Autism Against All Odds. Along with Dr. Jerry Karzinel, M.D., she also co-wrote the 2009 release Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide. And if that wasn’t enough, she founded an organization called Generation Rescue, consisting of “…scientists, physicians, and parent-volunteers researching the causes and treatments for autism…” Besides doing research, Generation Rescue strives to provide parents of autistic children with education and resources (including funding grants) to get early treatment. She, more than anyone, has helped this disorder come into the national spotlight.

Another celebrity who has dedicated himself to fighting autism is quarterback Doug Flutie, whose son, Doug Flutie, Jr., was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. He was one of the first celebrities to bring autism into the public spotlight. Doug and his wife Laurie started the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism in 2000 to increase awareness about the disorder, raise money both for research and to help families in need, and improve the overall quality of life for those suffering from autism. Since 1998, the Fluties have raised more than $10 million through corporate donations and endorsements.

Another former football player who is doing his part to fight autism is Dan Marino. After his son, Michael, was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, he and his wife Claire sought immediate treatment. Within months, he was able to begin speaking with the aid of a speech pathologist and today he functions at the same level as his peers. Because Michael had such success with early treatment, Marino wanted to find a way to help others. So in 1998 he built the Dan Marino Center at the Miami Children’s Hospital to treat children with autism and other developmental disorders. Then in 2005 his foundation donated $1.2 million to establish the Marino Autism Research Institute (MARI), with the goal of developing cutting edge research on the causes and treatments of autism.

Whether because autism is spreading or because it has become more widely recognized and diagnosed, it now affects more families than ever. And many celebrities have found themselves among that number. But by using the multiple resources at their disposal, they are doing their part to ensure that research continues and families obtain the education and resources they need to cope with and treat autism.

Guest Post by: Sarah Leonard of Nursing Programs.

Learning About Autism--As an Outsider

Thanks to Tammy, I have been invited to contribute to a blog that will prove educational to someone who is viewing autism from the outside. I've not known anyone with autism personally, nor someone who had an autistic child (at least not to my knowledge). I believe it is a benefit to try to understand others so that I can relate to my fellow human beings in a better way. Two, I have a natural curiosity to learn. Three, what if I someday have a grandchild who is autistic? After all, life has no guarantees. Four, God may have led me in this direction because he is trying to prepare me for something.

I began my journey by researching autism on the web. It seems it will not be so easy to jump in and comprehend as I had hoped. That's ok, I'm here to learn. All autistic children are not alike. That makes sense, we are all created differently in some way (even twins). Ok, you Moms who have experience can laugh at my naivete'. But this is also a blog to help others know what you go through, correct? It is entirely possible that other Moms of autistic children are thinking they are alone in their journey or that no one else could possibly understand. Plus, there may be people who have no idea what is going on with their child and have no idea what to do about it. Even today with the advancement of technology and education on all sorts of disorders, there is still a lack of awareness.

So, on my first day in this education of autism, I found some of the symptoms. Common symptoms are: seizures, gastrointestinal problems, mental retardation, and mental illness. Notice I stated "common". Others can be: little verbal interaction, repetitive behavior, few interests, hyper or hypo sensitivity to light-sounds-crowds-and other external stimulation, delayed or unusual speech patterns, high pitched or flat intonation, lack of slang, difficulty understanding tone of voice or body language, lack of eye contact, and the inability to take another perspective.

If anyone has something to add to the list, please leave your comments.
That's all for today. After all, it's a blog, not a book.