J Korean Soc Matern Child Health.  2017 May;21(2):100-111. 10.21896/jksmch.2017.21.2.100.

Child Rearing Experience of Mothers of School-Age Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Chung HI
• Kim YA

• KMID: 2449569
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21896/jksmch.2017.21.2.100

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to describe the child rearing experience of mothers of school-age children with autism spectrum disorders in Korea.
METHODS
Seven mothers were interviewed from October 2015 to January 2016. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological method.
RESULTS
The study results showed that the child rearing experience of mothers of school-age children with autism spectrum disorders consists of six major themes: "facing unexpected situations", "trying to accept children with disabilities", "having considerably adjusted to the difficulties associated with the children's school life", "experiencing frustrations", "maintaining a child-centered life style", and "being grateful for the present and looking forward to a better future".
CONCLUSION
The findings from this study show the need to provide more practically individualized and holistic services in the community for this population including their children such as lifetime education programs for the children and more financial aid for their therapies. In addition, the results reveal that mothers need physical, emotional, informational, financial, and social support to continue their life with children who have autism spectrum disorders.

Keyword

autism spectrum disorder; child rearing; disabled children; mother; qualitative research

MeSH Terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder*
Autistic Disorder*
Child
Child Rearing*
Child*
Disabled Children
Education
Humans
Korea
Methods
Mothers*
Qualitative Research