Research Article  |   February 2017
Child’s Sensory Profile and Adult Playfulness as Predictors of Parental Self-Efficacy
Rosa Román-Oyola; Stacey Reynolds; Ivonnellys Soto-Feliciano; Laura Cabrera-Mercader; Jessica Vega-Santana
Author Affiliations
  • Rosa Román-Oyola, PhD, MEd, OTR/L, is Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, School of Health Professions, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan; rosa.roman2@upr.edu
  • Stacey Reynolds, PhD, OTR/L, is Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
  • Ivonnellys Soto-Feliciano, MSOT, OT/L, is Occupational Therapist, Health South Rehabilitation Hospital, Manatí, PR. At the time of the study, she was Student, Occupational Therapy Program, School of Health Professions, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan
  • Laura Cabrera-Mercader, MSOT, OT/L, is Occupational Therapist, “Avanzando Juntos” Program, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Health Department, San Juan. At the time of the study, she was Student, Occupational Therapy Program, School of Health Professions, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan
  • Jessica Vega-Santana, MSOT, OT/L, is Occupational Therapist, La Concepción Hospital, San Germán, PR. At the time of the study, she was Student, Occupational Therapy Program, School of Health Professions, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan
Article Information
Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder / Pediatric Evaluation and Intervention / Children and Youth
Research Article   |   February 2017
Child’s Sensory Profile and Adult Playfulness as Predictors of Parental Self-Efficacy
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, February 2017, Vol. 71, 7102220010p1-7102220010p8. doi:10.5014/ajot.2017.021097
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, February 2017, Vol. 71, 7102220010p1-7102220010p8. doi:10.5014/ajot.2017.021097
Abstract

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have difficulty engaging their children through play, thus affecting the parent–child relationship and parental self-efficacy. This study intended to examine children’s sensory profile and adults’ playfulness as predictors of parental self-efficacy. A total of 136 parents of children ages 3–7 yr completed the Short Sensory Profile, the Playfulness Scale for Adults, and the Tool to Measure Parenting Self-Efficacy. For the parental couples of children with ASD, the most relevant predictor of general parental self-efficacy was the child’s sensory profile. However, adult playfulness resulted in the most relevant predictor of emotional parental self-efficacy. Findings suggest the importance of considering play as a relevant co-occupation that must be acknowledged when intervening with families of children with ASD and considering the child’s sensory modulation abilities, as well as parents’ playfulness and sense of self-efficacy, as potential outcomes when designing and evaluating treatment programs.