To explore how parents retrospectively reconstruct and integrate their child's ASD diagnosis through autobiographical memories over time.
Key Findings:
Main themes of suffering and struggling were identified.
A prevalence of unresolved diagnoses was noted.
Gender differences emerged in managing child-related care tasks and coping strategies.
Supportive resources significantly aid in parental adjustment and integration of the ASD experience, harmonizing gender differences.
Interpretation:
The impact of an ASD diagnosis is an ongoing process of meaning-making that evolves with the child's development and necessitates cognitive and emotional reconstruction by parents.
Limitations:
Small sample size may limit generalizability.
Focus on retrospective accounts may introduce bias.
Qualitative nature may limit the depth of quantitative analysis.
Conclusion:
The study underscores the importance of reframing parents' autobiographical memories to transform the meaning of their experiences with ASD, highlighting ongoing parental adaptation.
