Lived experience of mothers’ children with autism spectrum disorder: A phenomenological study

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex developmental condition that is associated with ongoing challenges in the child's social interaction, speech, and nonverbal communication, and affects mother-child interaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the lived experience of mothers’s children with autism spectrum disorder. The research method was qualitative with a descriptive phenomenological approach. The population included mothers of children with autism who had been referred to the Autism Association of Iran (in Tehran) in 1398. The sample was selected by the purposeful method and 8 mothers were examined until saturation was achieved. Data were collected by the semi-structured interview method and analyzed by Colaizzi’s seven-step method. Findings from the lived experience of mothers of children with autism were summarized in 4 main themes including the expression of conflicting emotions (positive and negative), weak psychological capital, limitations in social support networks, and effects and consequences. Also, several other sub-themes were identified. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of providing appropriate social support services for mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder. The results of this study emphasize the importance of providing appropriate social support services for mothers with children with an autism spectrum disorder. It is also recommended that psychologists and counselors focus on promoting psychological capital to improve quality of life for mothers with children with an autism spectrum disorder.