Measuring Family Outcomes for Young Autistic Children Receiving Interventions in China: The Structure of The Family Outcomes Survey and Predicting Variables

Given the importance of parent involvement and parent-implemented interventions in achieving maximum child outcomes, practitioners need valid measures to assess and monitor family outcomes in developing and delivering effective and sustainable interventions. This study examined the structure of the Family Outcomes Survey, Form A, using a sample of 467 caregivers of young children diagnosed with or at increased likelihood of autism in China and identified significant predictors of the five family outcomes. Findings supported a five-factor model but a poorer fit was reported when the overall family outcome factor was added to the model. Modeling shared variance between some items under Outcome 4, "having support systems," and Outcome 5, "accessing the community" was found to significantly improve the model fit. Among the analyzed child and family characteristics, the number of hours that the caregiver spent with the autistic child, caregivers' employment status, family income, and caregivers' educational attainment were found to be significantly associated with Family Outcomes Survey, Form A scores. Implications of the findings are discussed.