Exploring family relationships in the context of autism.

Abstract

The first chapter of this thesis contains a systematic review exploring the experiences of grandparents who have grandchildren diagnosed with autism. Following a systematic literature search eight studies were identified. A thematic synthesis was administered through which five themes were identified; ‘Overarching Role of Grandparent’, ‘Unconditional Love and Appreciation’, ‘Challenges to Grandparent Role’, ‘Emotional Response to Diagnosis’ and ‘Importance of Support Systems’. Within this chapter the findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature exploring the experiences of parents and siblings of autistic children. The findings highlight some key areas for future research to consider, as well as implications for clinical practice. The second chapter of this thesis includes a qualitative, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) empirical research study, exploring the parenting experiences of fathers diagnosed with autism. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six autistic fathers. Through IPA four Group Experiential Themes were identified; ‘The Meaning of Fatherhood’, ‘Impact of Autism on Parenting’, ‘Understanding of Diagnosis’ and ‘Importance of Coping Strategies and Support Systems’. This research highlights the importance of further research exploring the experiences of autistic fathers, given it is an under-researched area. Important clinical implications are also identified to improve the accessibility of services and support for autistic fathers.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Lucy Francis: orcid.org/0009-0004-7096-9287

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