Demonstrations of Resilience by Christian Couples Parenting Autistic Children: A Pilot Integration of the Double ABCX Model and a Theory of Couple Resilience

Abstract This qualitative pilot study seeks to bridge problem-focused and resilience- and strengths-based perspectives on the relationships of U.S. couples parenting autistic children to describe how these couples demonstrate resilience in a neuro-normative society. Secondary deductive qualitative analysis with inductive critical discourse analysis used interviews with five married, Christian couples parenting autistic children and examined the data against a Skerrett’s (in: Skerrett and Fergus, Couple resilience, Springer, 2015) theory of couple resilience and the Double ABCX model to better understand how they demonstrate resilience as partners and parents while raising an autistic child. Findings support a preliminary theory of process resilience that integrates Skerrett’s (in: Skerrett and Fergus, Couple resilience, Springer, 2015) theory of couple resilience and the Double ABCX model that is refined and expanded to include the influence of underlying societal structures that privilege neuro-normative meaning making about autism and neuro-normative expectations of marriage and parenting. Implications for practice include the potential importance of systemic brief therapy, teletherapy, or in-home treatments, and future research can consider how language use shapes couples’ experiences of stress in their relationship and in parenting autistic children.