The needs of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder

A literature review

Authors

  • Tina Hodaj General Hospital "Dr. Franc Derganc" Nova Gorica, Ulica padlih borcev 13 a, 5290 Šempeter pri Gorici, Slovenia
  • Jožica Ramšak Pajk Community Health Center Celje, Metelkova ulica 9, 1000 Ljubljana, and Angela Boškin Faculty of Health Care, Spodnji Plavž 3, 4270 Jesenice, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8258-9918

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2024.58.3.3233

Keywords:

child, early interventions, developmental disorders

Abstract

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders represent a category of developmental disorders characterised by severe deficits in social communication and interaction. The aim of this literature review was to examine the obstacles encountered by parents raising children with autism spectrum disorders.
Methods: Methodologically, this study represents a  literature review entailing a comprehensive search of multiple databases, including CINAHL, COBISS, PubMed, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. We used the following keywords to generate the search query: "early intervention", "autism disorder", "parents", "stress", and "diagnosis". The search protocol adhered to specific inclusion criteria, which included the following parameters: publication date between 2012 and 2022, availability of full-text articles, and text in Slovenian or English.
Results: From a total of 31217 hits that met the inclusion criteria, 14 studies were selected for the final review. The results of the review were classified into four distinct categories: (1) emotional challenges experienced by parents raising children with autism spectrum disorders, (2) obstacles faced by these parents, (3) support for parents in overcoming these challenges, and (3) aspirations and requirements expressed by parents of  children with autism spectrum disorders.
Discussion and conclusion: Parents caring for children with autism spectrum disorders struggle with a range of adverse emotions and sentiments, which include but are not limited to feeling overwhelmed, scared, anxious, tired, misunderstood, and encountering obstacles when seeking information and support. Timely diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder in a child and access to the necessary services can yield several benefits, such as promoting the child’s developmental progress, mitigating financial  burdens, and fostering better coping mechanisms for parental stress.

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Published

2024-09-22

How to Cite

Hodaj, T. ., & Ramšak Pajk, J. (2024). The needs of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: A literature review. Slovenian Nursing Review, 58(3), 207–215. https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2024.58.3.3233

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Review article

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