This study was a nonexperimental correlational study that took a strengths-based approach and utilized family systems theories to examine parenting stress, as measured by the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, and posttraumatic growth (PTG), as measured by the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the relationship between the two constructs. The study was conducted with a national sample of 136 maternal caregivers of transition-age youth on the autism spectrum (ASD), ages 14 to 22 years, recruited through social media, flyers, and referrals. Participants were primarily biological mothers (83.9%), White (87.5%), and resided in the South (68.4%); the mean age of the adolescent with ASD was 17.16 years. Descriptive statistical findings showed that caregivers had normal levels of parenting stress and high levels of PTG. Results from one-sample t tests showed that the sample parenting stress mean score (M = 51) was similar to the population mean score of 50 while the sample PTG mean score (M = 56) was significantly higher than the population PTG mean score of 52.5. The third research question examined if parenting stress was significantly associated with PTG, controlling for pertinent covariates. Hierarchical multiple linear regression findings indicated that, after controlling for the place of residence, parenting stress was significantly associated with PTG: as parenting stress increased, PTG decreased. Parenting stress explained 7% of the variance in PTG, a small effect size. Findings from this study denote the positive aspects of parenting an adolescent with ASD. Results can inform the development of parent interventions aimed at reducing parenting stress and enhancing PTG.

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照顧是一種「愛的勞動」， 性的工作，尤其是家庭中的照顧者幾乎都由女性擔任。 我國未來由於人口結構老化及疾病型態的改變， 失能老人照顧勢必逐漸取代女性過去以兒童照顧為主的照顧責任與經驗。 目前女性照顧者在失能老人照顧關係上，因對角色安排及外來協助未有充份的選擇權及自主權， 致使家庭中的女性照顧者與失能老人皆陷入缺乏尊嚴、衝突與無助的家庭照顧關係。 據此，本文之研究目的與研究結果摘要如下： 一、瞭解女性照顧者角色成因。 結果發現受到父權主義、資本主義所影響的家庭、勞動市場及國家等社會結構， 構成了「型塑」及「強化」女性照顧者角色的結構網絡。 而偏好「單系親屬關係體系」、強調「孝道」的文化傳統、及「三代同堂」的居住安排， 使我國女性照顧者有高於西方社會的強制性關係與情感衝突。 二、瞭解女性照顧者的困境與需求。結果發現女性照顧者的責任認知、 從事照顧事務、 外來協助、角色衝突、壓力感受都與男性照顧者有所不同。負荷與壓力主要呈現在身體、心理、社會參與、財務及工作方面， 且女性會面臨較高的貧窮風險， 須借助政府制定經濟性、勞務性、心理性或就業性措施予以協助。 三、探討西 方先進國家女性照顧者福利議題的歷史發展與爭議。 結果發現西方先進國家的失能老人照顧政策， 隨其國家干預政策發展出「傳統模式」、「替代模式」及「支持模式」等三種福利策略。 目前盛行的社區照顧政策可視為支持模式的衍生， 即由國家與家庭「共擔責任」，在失能老人照顧上建立一種「互補性」的合作關係。 四、對我國女性照顧者的福利措施提出策略性建議。

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Caring for a family member who is ill can be a draining experience (Cooper et al., 2006; Daire, 2002; Zarit et al, 1980). Providing care for a family member that is living with HIV/AIDS is potentially even more stressful because of social meanings associated with HIV/AIDS infection (Stajduhar, 1998) and the contagious nature of the HIV virus (Powell-Cope & Brown, 1992). Research indicates that most caregivers are female (Bunting, 2001; Songwathana, 2000). In Africa women bear the brunt of the burden of providing care for family members who are living with HIV/AIDS (Mushonga, 2001; Olenja, 1999). This study examined coping factors and caregiver burden among female caregivers (N=116) of a family member living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya. Coping factors were derived from a principal components factor analysis of the fourteen scales on the Brief Cope (Carver, 1997). Caregiver burden was measured using the Zarit Caregiver Burden Inventory. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the relationships between caregiver burden and coping factors. Post–hoc multiple regression analyses further investigated the relationship between caregiver burden and caregiver demographic characteristics. The relationship between caregiver burden and care recipient characteristics was also investigated. The principle components factor analysis of the Brief Cope yielded five coping factors that were labeled: Social support, Hope, Acceptance, Planning, and Disposition. The regression analysis that was conducted to investigate the relationships between these five coping factors and caregiver burden indicated a significant inverse relationship between Hope and caregiver burden. The post-hoc analyses investigating the relationship between various caregiver and care recipient characteristics indicated a significant relationship between the caregiver's age and caregiver burden, and education level and caregiver burden. An increase in age correlated with a decrease in caregiver burden. An increase in education level correlated with reduced caregiver burden. Implications of the findings for research and practice are discussed.