A quarterly publication of the Autism Research Institute
Fall, 2018 | Number 4, Volume 32
While much research has focused on the difficulties associated with having a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a new study from Israel takes the opposite approach: exploring the positive experiences of parents of children with ASD.
In the study, Einat Waizbard-Bartov and colleagues interviewed 19 parents of children with autism. Participants were recruited via Internet messages calling on parents to join a study on growth experiences and positive aspects of parenting a child with ASD. The researchers report that four “growth themes” emerged from their interviews:
• Many parents described feelings of empowerment and increased personal strength as a result of parenting a child with ASD. The researchers note, “These feelings of empowerment described by parents go beyond the domain of parenting and reflect benefits, gained through parents’ strengthened self-concept, in other life areas.” In addition, they say, nearly all parents mentioned participating in activities that supported other parents of children with ASD. For these parents, the researchers say, feelings of strength manifested themselves in the ability to help others in need.
• A number of parents described growth related to their insights into life or their spiritual or emotional perspectives. In addition, the researchers say, many parents remarked on their growth in their attitude toward parenting a “different” child.
• Many parents commented that their relationships with their spouses became stronger and better, and that they experienced a feeling of “winning a shared victory” as they worked together as parents. Several also commented that their entire family became more united as a result of the experience, while some remarked that parenting a child with ASD made them better parents of their other children as well. In addition, all parents mentioned that parenting a child with ASD led to close ties with friends, professionals, and extended family. Moreover, despite the hardships involved in parenting a child with ASD, the researchers say, “parents in our study spoke of deep and loving connections with their children” and “parents’ intensified involvement with their child with ASD made them view this relationship as special in comparison to relationships with their other children.”
• Many of the parents said that as a result of parenting a child with ASD, they experienced growth in their professional careers. The researchers say, “Parents frequently reported the acquisition of expertise in the field of autism that gradually changed the parent’s professional interest and later enabled a career change.” In addition, many parents became active politically as a result of raising a child with ASD.
The researchers note that their findings do not diminish the hardship of raising a child with autism. “All narratives,” they say, “included references to a crisis period after identifying difficulties in the child’s development or receiving the diagnosis. Descriptions of this period included traumatic images of parents’ worlds as they spoke of hurt, dolefulness, sadness, pain, anxiety, helplessness, and shame.” Rather, they say, their findings show that positive growth can occur for many parents following this crisis phase.
“Personal growth experiences of parents to children with autism spectrum disorder,” Einat Waizbard-Bartov, Maya Yehonatan-Schori, and Ofer Golan, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, October 26, 2018 (epub prior to print publication). Address: Ofer Golan, Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 RamatGan, Israel, [email protected].
