Family Resilience in Families of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Ecological Systems Theory Perspective

Abstract Drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (1992), we asked how certain resources contribute to family resilience in families of children with ASD: family quality of life (FQOL; family resources), sense of community and loneliness (informal resources), and family-centered support provided by the state (formal resources). One hundred and twenty-one Israeli parents of children with ASD completed an online survey. Path analysis using AMOS was conducted. FQOL contributed to increased family resilience. Path analysis showed loneliness, sense of community, and services use contributed to family resilience through FQOL. Overall, the research model explained 68% of the variance in family resilience. Implications for research and practice are discussed.