Exploring the Caregiving Experiences and Challenges of Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China

Abstract

The aim of this research was to explore the caregiving experiences and challenges of mothers of children with ASD in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China. To achieve this aim, the research employed a qualitative design and used semi-structured interviews to facilitate the collection of rich, qualitative data regarding the experiences and challenges of mothers of children with ASD. The study population comprised mothers of children with ASD in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China, and purposive sampling was used to select a suitable sample of 10 mothers that was used in the study. The participants were recruited from a rehabilitation center for children with ASD in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, while thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data collected from the sample of mothers of children with ASD. Overall, the results reveal that the main social challenges experienced by mothers of autistic children in the region include stigma, inadequate social support, as well as fatigue, stress & anxiety. In addition to revealing the challenges facing mothers of children with ASD, the results also revealed the main coping strategies that can be used by mothers of autistic children in addressing the major caregiving challenges and improving their health and well-being. Thus, this research has valuable implications for both theory and practice.