Abstract:
This study examines the relationship between coping styles, and life satisfaction, and
empowerment in caregivers of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants
were 300 caregivers of children with an ASD. They were recruited through service providers for
children with an ASD, Facebook Support Pages, and the snowball method. Caregivers filled out
a few demographic questions, the Brief COPE, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the
Family Empowerment Scale (FES). The first category of coping (Self Distraction, Denial,
Behavioral Disengagement, Venting, Humor, Self-Blame) was negatively related to life
satisfaction while the third category of coping (Emotional Support, Instrumental Support) was
positively related. The family subscale of empowerment positively predicted life satisfaction.