Families Living With a Child Diagnosed With Autism: Challenges And Coping Mechanisms
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Families are facing a number of challenges in raising a child with developmental
di sability. Though there are di fferent types of developmental di sabilities, auti sm is one of
the most important developmental di sabilities to be studied. The fun ctional family system
is experiencing a challenging situation due caring a child with auti sm whi ch fu rther
affects family members an d the community at large. The main objective of th is study is to
understand the challenges in re lation to psychological, social, economic, marital and
sibling aspects and coping mechani sm of fa milies living with a child diagnosed with
auti sm. A qualitative approach parti cularly a case study was used in thi s study. The tool
for collecting primary data was in depth interview to gather deta il information about
family challenges. Six families whose children are enrolled at Joy Center for Children
with Auti sm and Related Developmenta l Disorder were involved in the stud y. Finding of
the study was analyzed using fin ding of case study with thematic areas. The finding from
the study confirm ed that study participant famili es living with a child di agnosed with
autism are fac ing psychological, social, and economi c challenges. Stress, anxiety, soc ial
iso lation, discrimination, limitation in labor market participation and financial burdens
are the main challenges. Families have employed various coping mechani sms to
minimize the magnitude of these challenges. In addition, the result of the find ing has
implication to social work practice. Prov ision of psychosocial support and awareness
creation has to be addressed with different stakeholders in health and social sector. In
addition, research works in the area of di sabilities particul arl y auti sm has to be
encouraged.
Key words: Challenges, Coping Mechani sms, Families, Psychosocial support
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Keywords
Challenges, Coping Mechani sms, Families, Psychosocial support