A Phenomenological Study of the Relationship Between Parents and Their Children Diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Wright State University CORE Scholar Browse all Theses and Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 2011 Reconstructing Autism: A Phenomenological Study of the Relationship Between Parents and their Children Diagnosed with An Autism Spectrum Disorder Laura Elizabeth Solomon Wright State University Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all Part of the Psychology Commons Repository Citation Solomon, Laura Elizabeth, "Reconstructing Autism: A Phenomenological Study of the Relationship Between Parents and their Children Diagnosed with An Autism Spectrum Disorder" (2011). Browse all Theses and Dissertations. 1105. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all/1105 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Browse all Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RECONSTRUCTING AUTISM: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER PROFESSIONAL DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY BY LAURA ELIZABETH SOLOMON, Psy.M. IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY Dayton, Ohio September, 2012 COMMITTEE CHAIR: Julie L. Williams, Psy.D., CRC, ABPP (RP) Committee Member: Heather N. Wilder, Psy.D. Committee Member: Erendira Lopez-Garcia, Psy.D. WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY June 2, 2011 I HEREBY RECOMMEND THAT THE DISSERTATION PREPARED UNDER MY SUPERVISION BY LAURA ELIZABETH SOLOMON ENTITLED “RECONSTRUCTING AUTISM: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR CHILD DIAGNOSED WITH AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER" BE ACCEPTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY. ___________________________________ Julie L. Williams, Psy.D., ABPP (RP), CRC Dissertation Director _______________________________________ Eve M. Wolf, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Abstract This study aims to serve as a deconstruction of the experience of parenting a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The increasing number of families with children affected by ASDs has led to many questions about the impact of ASDs on the family unit; however, the voice of parents is sorely missing in the extant research. The history of ASDs and disability in general continues to impact the ways families, society, and professionals treat families affected by ASDs, and particularly the ways they view and value the parent-child relationship. Six mothers of children with ASDs were interviewed about their experience parenting a child on the autism spectrum and their relationship with their child. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to give voice to the parents‘ collective experiences. Clinical implications and limitations of this study, as well as directions for future research, are discussed. iii Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 ........................................................................................................................1 Introduction to the Study .....................................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................ 1 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER 2 ........................................................................................................................6 Literature Review.................................................................................................................6 Autism Spectrum Disorders ............................................................................................ 8 Models of Disability ........................................................................................................ 9 Moral model. ............................................................................................................... 9 Medical model. .......................................................................................................... 10 Minority model. ......................................................................................................... 11 History of Autism Spectrum Disorders ......................................................................... 14 Moral model. ............................................................................................................. 14 Medical model. .......................................................................................................... 15 Minority model: neurodiversity and ―curing‖ autism................................................ 19 Attachment .................................................................................................................... 20 Overview of attachment theory. ................................................................................ 20 Research on attachment. ............................................................................................ 21 Autism and attachment. ............................................................................................. 22 Families of Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder ............................................. 24 Parental reactions to their child‘s diagnosis of a disability. ...................................... 25 Familial stress, adjustment and resiliency. ................................................................ 27 Acceptance of individuals with severe disabilities. ................................................... 30 Parents views of parenting a child with an ASD ........................................................... 32 Qualitative perspective .................................................................................................. 34 Interpretive phenomenological analysis. ................................................................... 35 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 39 CHAPTER 3 ......................................................................................................................41 Method ...............................................................................................................................41 Participants .................................................................................................................... 41 iv Materials ........................................................................................................................ 41 Procedure ....................................................................................................................... 43 CHAPTER 4 ......................................................................................................................45 Results ................................................................................................................................45 Participants .................................................................................................................... 45 Interview Responses ...................................................................................................... 46 Question 1: ... ............................................................................................................. 47 Question 2: ................................................................................................................. 48 Question 3: ................................................................................................................. 49 Question 4: ................................................................................................................. 49 Question 5: ................................................................................................................. 51 Question 6: ................................................................................................................. 53 Question 7: ................................................................................................................. 53 Question 8: ................................................................................................................. 54 CHAPTER 5 ......................................................................................................................56 Discussion ..........................................................................................................................56 General Discussion Regarding the Process of the Interview ........................................ 56 Medical and Minority Model Interpretations ................................................................ 59 Attachment .................................................................................................................... 63 Gender ........................................................................................................................... 64 Conclusion and Clinical Implications ........................................................................... 67 Limitations ...................................................................................................................