Managing Mothers' Expectations in Caring for Autistic Children from a Nursing Perspective: A Qualitative Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2025.v16i03.018Abstract
Background: Autism is a syndrome with a deviation or delays in behaviours, communication, and social interactions. Therefore, a mother needs to have an understanding of caring for a child with autism, and a nurse needs to understand the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of parents, especially mothers, in caring for their children. This study aimed to explore the management of mothers' expectations in caring for children with autism from a nursing perspective. Methods: This research is a qualitative study; semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 7 participants who are parents of children with autism. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines were applied to ensure rigor. Thematic analysis was used to carry out this study. Results: This research identified four themes and 11 sub-themes: (1) Awareness of the limitations of a child; (2) Empathy of a child's love language for problem-solving; (3) Understanding the acceptance process; and (4) Realistic expectations for the child. Conclusion: This study provides a detailed list of mothers' expectations for treating children with autism. Mothers have a way to manage their expectations about their child's condition. They also have great hopes for their children's future to succeed in their education and life. Nurses can provide professional nursing care to children with autism, especially in preserving the mother's mental health.
Keywords:
Autism Children, Caring, Mothers’ ExpectationsDownloads
References
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