Perceived Behavioral Inflexibility and Family Functioning among Parents of Children with ASD: Role of Psychological Flexibility
Keywords:
Psychological Flexibility, Behavioral Inflexibility, Parents, ASD, Family Functioning.Abstract
This study aimed to explore the relationship among parental psychological flexibility, perceived behavioral inflexibility and family functioning in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study was conducted in 4 cities of Punjab, Pakistan with a sample of 400 parents (200 mothers & 200 fathers) selected through purposive sampling. Data collection involved the use of the Psychological Flexibility Scale (PFSS), the Behavioral Inflexibility Scale for Children with ASD and Other Developmental Disabilities, and the Autism Family Experience Scale. The results revealed that parental psychological flexibility had significant negative correlation with perceived behavioral inflexibility and strong positive correlation with family functioning in parents of children with ASD. The study also found that parental psychological flexibility significantly predicts family functioning among parents of children with ASD, explaining 75% of the variance. In the context of raising children with ASD, these findings highlight the value of parental psychological flexibility in fostering effective family functioning.
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