The Social & Psychological Burden of Autism: A Phenomenological Study of Autism Moms

Abstract

Autism moms confront devastating challenges consistently impacting their social, emotional & psychological well-being, still there is insufficient research available on exploring the phenomenon from maternal perspective. To fill the gap, the present study aimed at exploring the lived experiences of autism moms and identifying the psychological & social challenges faced by them. The study employed descriptive phenomenological method by using a qualitative research design to explore the mother’s experiences. Fifteen mothers of children with autism were recruited from BMC and Civil Hospital in Quetta, Balochistan, and in-depth interviews were conducted to expose the full spectrum of their experience. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was carried out to analyze transcribed data. The study identified that mothers of children with autism face variety of overlapping problems adversely impacting their personal & social life. The psychological challenges included emotional exhaustion, strain, depression and frustration. Social challenges included stigma, blame, isolation, societal ignorance, and problems in family and spousal relationships. A key theme identified the lack of family & social support to autism moms. The majority of mothers reported receiving minimal societal support insufficient to meet their needs. To reduce stigma and improve the lives of autism moms and their children, public awareness initiatives and stronger social support network are recommended.