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18-05-2019 | Original Paper

“The Stress of the Situation has Changed us Both”: A Grounded Theory Analysis of the Romantic Relationship of Parents Raising Children with Autism

Auteurs: Keely H. Hirsch, Jill D. Paquin

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies | Uitgave 10/2019

Abstract

Objectives

Extant literature on family life and autism demonstrates that parents of children with autism experience significantly more parental stress when compared with parents of typically developing children, as well as parents of children with other types of disabilities. In two-parent households, however, how having a child with autism specifically impacts the parents’ romantic relationship with each other is less well understood. The present study aims to better understand how family life that includes parenting a child with autism impacts the romantic relationship of parents; what particular challenges this poses for these parents; and what specific resources, tools, and skills parents bring to bear on negotiating these challenges.

Methods

This study uses a grounded theory approach to gain an in-depth, phenomenological perspective on family life with autism, from the perspective of nine (n = 9) parents participating in interviews with the study’s primary investigator. A research team approach was used in the development and analysis stages of the project.

Results

Analysis of the nine interview transcripts with parents of children with autism revealed 45 master categories, grouped into 14 key categories, which were further grouped into four constructs: (1) Parents’ Expectations of What Family Life Would Have Been Like Without Autism, (2) Perceptions of Family Life, (3) Perceptions of Challenges that Autism Brings to the Family, and (4) Coping Strategies. An emergent theory is articulated concerning how these constructs are interrelated, including the role of specific facilitative factors, barriers, and coping strategies present in the lives of these parents.

Conclusions

Through a grounded theory analysis, the present study demonstrates that parents’ expectations for and perceptions of their child with autism has an effect on their ability to cope and to co-parent, and that these experiences, in turn, influence their relationship with their partner.

vorige artikel A Dynamic Systems Approach to Understanding Mindfulness in Interpersonal Relationships

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Titel: “The Stress of the Situation has Changed us Both”: A Grounded Theory Analysis of the Romantic Relationship of Parents Raising Children with Autism
Auteurs: Keely H. Hirsch
Jill D. Paquin
Publicatiedatum: 18-05-2019
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies / Uitgave 10/2019
Print ISSN: 1062-1024
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2843
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01448-y

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