UNC research study focusing on military families with child with ASD

Military families are invited to participate in a research study entitled, “Facing Challenges on Two Fronts: Exploring the Process of Resilience for Military Families Raising a Child with Autism.”

The purpose of this study is to learn about the everyday experiences and daily routines of military families who are raising a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. This research study will contribute to building a better understanding of the daily lives of families of active duty military personnel who are raising a child with ASD, and challenges they face in coping with a unique set of challenges surrounding symptoms associated with ASD within the context of military life.

Participants will consist of active duty Air Force, Army, Marine, or Navy spouses who have a child with an ASD. Participation will involve a series of three interviews over the course of a few weeks, and should only take about one to two hours for each interview. The total time commitment will be approximately three to five hours. Interviews will take place either over the phone or in the participant’s home, whatever they feel most comfortable with.

Involvement in the study is voluntary, and you may choose not to participate or to stop at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.  All data obtained in this study will be confidential.  The results of the research study may be published, but your name will not be used.  In fact, the published results will be presented in summary form only.  Your identity will not be associated with your responses in any published format.

The findings from this project may inform practices, programs, and interventions that support military families with a child with Autism. Building knowledge surrounding this particular population will allow for a strengthening of current policies and programs that have the potential for a positive impact on individual and family well-being, and overall family readiness.

Contact Ashley Freuler, doctoral student conducting dissertation research in the School of Allied Health at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, at (919) 370-0858 or send an e-mail to afreuler@med.unc.edu with any questions about this research project.  Her faculty advisor Dr. Grace Baranek, professor and associate chair for research in the School of Allied Health at UNC, can be reached at (919) 843-4467 or by email at gbaranek@med.unc.edu.