Enhancement factor of help-seeking in parents of children with developmental disorders

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K21161
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Clinical psychology; Special needs education
• Research Institution: Kobe University (2016-2017); Nara Women's University (2015)
• Principal Investigator: Yamane Takahiro 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 准教授 (60644523)
• Research Collaborator: YAMANISHI Kimi ; TANIGUCHI Aya
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 自閉症 / オンラインサポート / インターネット検索 / 援助要請 / 親 / 障害認識 / 障害受容 / 精神的健康

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Factors enhancing help-seeking behavior in parents of children with developmental disorders

This study aimed to investigate situations in which the parents of children with autism spectrum disorder access online information and support before the child’s diagnosis and the present, and whether online information and support affect parents’ help-seeking behavior and mental health. Surveys were conducted with parents of children with autism spectrum disorders and analyses utilized search engine data. The results showed that most parents searched online for information and supports about autism and developmental disorders before the child’s diagnosis, and most parents regularly accessed online information and supports; online search behavior increased help-seeking behavior in parents experiencing higher parenting stress, and parent’ s experience made it difficult to engage in help-seeking behavior.

Free Research Field

発達臨床心理学