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Thesis
Dance/movement therapy and autistic disorder: a case analysis of a father/son interaction
Master of Arts (M.A.), Allegheny University of the Health Sciences
Aug 1997
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-2647
Abstract
Dance/Movement Therapy (D/MT) has been a successful intervention in thetreatment of autistic children. Depending on the needs of the child, intervention may beindividual (therapist and child) or include members of the child's family. In the past, mostfamily D/MT intervention has focused on the mother/child dyad since this has traditionallybeen the primary care giving relationship. In an effort to document the importance of thepaternal influence on the development of an autistic child, this study examined therelationship between a father and his autistic son and the effects that D/MT had on thatrelationship. The following three hypotheses were proposed: 1) D/MT would promotepositive change in the relationship by expanding both the father's and son's movementrepertoire, thus providing options for more successful interaction; 2) the son's level offunctioning would increase in correlation with this positive change; and 3) the father'sstress level concerning both his relationship to his child and his own parenting style woulddecrease based upon his gaining an understanding of their relationship on a movementlevel. The subjects participating in this study were a thirty-seven-year-old father, who isdiagnosed with degenerative Cerebral Palsy, and his three-year-old autistic son. The dyadreceived six weekly D/MT sessions. They were rated pre- and post- D/MT intervention. The father's relationship to his son, the son's relationship to his father, and the father/sonrelationship was rated on the Nonverbal Assessment for Family Systems scale (Dulicai,1977), the child's relationship to his father was rated on the Relationship to an Adult,Communication, Drive for Mastery, and Body Movement scales of the Behavioral RatingInstrument for Autistic and Other Atypical Children (Ruttenberg, Kalish, Wenar, & Wolf,1977 & Ruttenberg, Wolf-Schein, & Wenar, 1991) and the father's stress levels were ratedby the Parenting Stress Index (Abidin, 1986). Results at post-test supported the study's initial hypotheses. Both the father and sondisplayed a broader movement repertoire which increased their interactional options. Theson demonstrated increased skill in each of the four scales of the BRIAAC. Finally, thefather's overall level of stress concerning his son and his parenting style decreased. Thepositive results of this study suggest that fathers are important participants in the treatmentof autistic children. They also suggest that using the design of this study with a largersample size and research concerning the father/child relationship in general is warranted.
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Details
- Title
- Dance/movement therapy and autistic disorder
- Creators
- Douglas E. Cornman - DH
- Contributors
- Sherry W. Goodill (Advisor) - DH
- Awarding Institution
- Allegheny University of the Health Sciences
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Publisher
- Allegheny University of the Health Sciences; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Mental Health Sciences [Historical]; Creative Arts in Therapy [Historical]; Allegheny University of the Health Sciences (1996-1998); School of Health Professions (1996-1998)
- Other Identifier
- 2647; 991014632317504721