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- Title
The life of mothers of children with Autism: A grounded theory study.
- Authors
Rafii, Forough; Seyedfatemi, Naimeh; Asgarabad, Hamideh Elahi
- Abstract
Raising a child with autism as a "lifelong developmental disorder" creates unique and countless challenges in all aspects of mothers' lives that affect their meaning of life and sense of existence. As a part of more extensive research, this study aims to explore these mothers' life processes. This qualitative study was conducted with a grounded theory approach. Participants included 12 mothers and 2 fathers of children with autism. They were first selected by purposeful maximum variation sampling, which turned into theoretical sampling. Data were collected using 14 semi-structured interviews and 4 observations. Corbin and Strauss's (2015) analytical approach was used for data analysis. The core variable in this study emerged as "trying to achieve balance," which consists of five main categories: "despair," "ambiguity," "neutralization," "child management," and "relationship management." Clearly, all interviewees repeatedly talked about instability and non-balance and fluctuations in different stages of life and trying to achieve balance in their lives and those of their families. This study's findings help develop theories and models of care regarding the provision of quality care and the development of knowledge in this field. Therapists, health managers and policymakers can use these findings to provide appropriate social support services to mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders and help mothers manage these children properly and effectively.
- Subjects
AUTISTIC children; AUTISM in children; CHILDREN with autism spectrum disorders; GROUNDED theory; SOCIAL services; AUTISM spectrum disorders; AMBIGUITY
- Publication
Revista Latinoamericana de Hipertension, 2024, Vol 19, Issue 4, p154
- ISSN
1856-4550
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5281/zenodo.11260914