Religious Coping of Muslim Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Indonesia

Abstract

The challenges faced by mothers in parenting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are gaining attention in psychological analyses. Few reviews have examined the role of religion in assisting mothers to cope with such challenges, particularly in Medan City, Indonesia. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the positive impact of religion on motherhood, specifically focusing on religious coping, in the context of parenting children with ASD. A total of seven biological mothers of children diagnosed with ASD in Medan City were selected as the participants. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was adopted to analyze their parenting experiences. The results showed that there were nine categories of religious experiences with positive impacts, including (1) husnuzan, (2) sabr, (3) ikhlas, (4) ikhtiar, (5) tawakkul, (6) sholat, (7) zikr, (8) reading the Qur’an, and (9) praying and giving thanks. In conclusion, this study explained the impact of religious coping on Muslim mothers caring for children with ASD, shedding light on several key insights such as (1) religion served as a source of strength and support in managing the stress of caregiving, (2) it enhanced mothers’ appreciation of life and fostered a positive outlook, and (3) religion promoted positive coping strategies and acceptance of children with ASD, potentially leading to joyful caregiving.