Exploring fathers’ perceptions of parenting a child with Asperger syndrome

• Published in: Journal of Intellectual Disabilities Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 198 - 213
• Main Authors: O’ Halloran, Maeve, Sweeney, John, Doody, Owen
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-09-2013; Sage Publications
• Subjects: Accessibility (for Disabled); Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Asperger Syndrome; Asperger Syndrome - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child clinical studies; Child Development; Child Rearing; Developmental disorders; Disability Identification; Family Life; Fathers; Fathers - psychology; Female; Foreign Countries; Humans; Infantile autism; Intellectual deficiency; Interview, Psychological; Ireland; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Health Services - standards; Middle Aged; Parent Attitudes; Parenting - psychology; Parenting Skills; Parenting Styles; Phenomenology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Related Services (Special Education); Semi Structured Interviews; Stress Variables; Ireland; fathers’ perceptions; Asperger syndrome; parental stress; autism spectrum disorder (ASD); disability; Social environment; Human; Handicap; Parental behavior; Parent; Developmental disorder; fathers' perceptions; Stress; Autism spectrum disorder; Disability; Autism; Pervasive developmental disorder; Family environment; Intellectual deficiency; Perception; Father; Child
• ISSN: 1744-6295; 1744-6309
• DOI: 10.1177/1744629513494928

This study explores Irish fathers’ perceptions of parenting a child with Asperger syndrome (AS). Ethical approval was granted by the service provider, and Husserlian phenomenological approach facilitated the exploration. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews of nine fathers in the West region of Ireland. Data were transcribed and analysed using Colaizzi’s (1978) method. The study highlighted that parenting a child with AS is an arduous task, but while there are difficulties, many positive aspects to their parenting experience were reported. Overall, the study highlights the importance of listening to parents and their initial concerns regarding their child’s development.