Fathers experiences of sleeping problems in children with autism

Abstract

Research limitations:The interview sample cannot be said to be representative of all fathers of children with autism since the backgrounds of those taking part were relatively homogeneous in respect of ethnicity, marital status and level of education.Practical implications: Improvements in effective, family-centred provision are urgently needed which employ a co-parenting, gender-differentiated methodology. Social implications:Given the severity and frequency of difficulties, sleeping problems in children with autism should be viewed as a significant public health concern. Originality/value: This is one of the first studies, qualitative or quantitative, to explore the role and perspectives of fathers of children with autism in the important area of sleep management.

“I received a leaflet and that is all”: Father experiences of a diagnosis of autism

“…The lack of inclusion experienced by several fathers in the diagnostic process can be contextualised within findings from the wider survey associated with this study (Potter, forthcoming) where six in ten fathers felt that they had not been adequately supported “as the child's father” in the period following diagnosis. Such perspectives are suggestive of a deficit model approach implicit in the attitudes of practitioners encountered and it is consistent with findings from other studies in the field of disability where provision has been found to be generally targeted at mothers (see Flippin and Crais, ; SCIE, ; Towers, ).…”

“…Findings from the wider survey, from which the current data set is drawn found that over half of all fathers (52%, 161/306) felt that having a child with autism had negatively affected their couple relationship (Potter, forthcoming) resonating with the results of a meta‐analysis which found relationship satisfaction amongst couples having children with autism to be lower than amongst those having children without disabilities (Sim, Cordier, Vaz, & Falkmer, ). The year following diagnosis has been reported as imposing particular stresses on couples (McGrew & Keyes, ) and here, insights into the kinds of pressures which diagnosis placed on relationships are provided from the paternal perspective.…”

“…Findings from the wider research associated with this study showed that “coming up with strategies for what to do” was one of the most frequently reported approaches to coping of fathers of children with autism (Potter, forthcoming). Furthermore, the increased use of information seeking as a coping strategy amongst fathers of children with autism, compared with fathers of typically developing children, was identified by Rodrigue, Morgan, and Geffken ().…”

“…Although the numbers of fathers choosing to focus on feelings of exclusion during the diagnostic process were relatively small, such comments can be contextualised within wider survey findings, where 60% of the whole sample completing the survey (185/306) reported that they had not felt adequately supported “as the child's father” in the period following diagnosis (Potter, forthcoming).…”

“…Here, the powerful and challenging experiences of a larger group of men is reported in relation to a diagnosis of autism, providing some further insight concerning relationships between characteristics of father background, the nature of children's diagnoses and response to diagnosis. The strength and depth of emotional reactions reported is concerning when set alongside the significant lack of post‐diagnostic support which six in ten men identified, in the wider survey from which the current data set is drawn (Potter, forthcoming). A key issue here is that the lack of effective support at such a critical time may influence men's future ability to cope with family challenges which in turn may impact whole family functioning and relationships (Glenn, ).…”