Self-Compassion in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

Emerging quantitative research found self-compassion to be a unique predictor of parental stress in parents of children with ASD above other predictors. However, research on the lived experience of self-compassion in families of children with ASD is limited. Using a qualitative thematic analysis approach, nineteen mothers of children with ASD with a mean age of 39.19 years (SD = 3.56, Range = 31.00 -50.00 years) were interviewed about their lived experiences of stress and self-compassion. Themes derived from interviews include: the impact and causes of stress, benefits of self-compassion, barriers to self-compassion, and aids to self-compassion. The findings deepen our understanding of the experience of self-compassion in this population.Limitations and future directions are discussed. Keywords: Qualitative, self-compassion, parenting, mothers of children with ASD, parent stress.Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterised by persistent impairments in social interactions and communication across different contexts, as well as restricted, repetitive behaviour, activities, or interests (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 0.74% of children under the age of seven in Australia (Bent, Dissanayake, & Barbaro, 2015) or approximately one in 160 children more globally (Elsabbagh et al., 2012). Parents of children with ASD report higher levels of stress than parents of typically developing children, children with intellectual disabilities, children with Down Syndrome, children

Self-Compassion pada Orang Tua yang Memiliki Anak dengan Down Syndrome

“…Dalam penelitian sebelumnya mengenai selfcompassion pada ibu dengan anak autism spectrum disorder (ASD) di Australia, diketahui bahwa arti dan pengalaman mengenai self-compassion dapat berbeda di populasi dan budaya lainnya; sehingga peneliti selanjutnya dapat meneliti pada target populasi yang memiliki nilai, pengalaman dan budaya yang berbeda untuk dapat memberikan pemahaman dan intervensi yang valid secara sosial dan budaya. Selain itu terdapat kebutuhan untuk mendapatkan pemahaman akan selfcompassion pada pengasuh lain selain ibu, seperti ayah; sehingga penelitian yang mengeksplorasi pengalaman hidup orang tua sangat penting dalam memahami pengalaman unik orang tua, yang kemudian akan membantu menginformasikan intervensi yang secara khusus akan ditargetkan untuk mengurangi stres orang tua dan meningkatkan kondisi orang tua [16]. Adapun dalam hal ini, sejauh yang dapat peneliti temukan, belum ada penelitian sebelumnya, khususnya secara kualitatif, mengenai self-compassion sebagai suatu sikap yang dilihat dari perspektif orang tua yang memiliki anak dengan down syndrome di Indonesia.…”

Mentalization and Self-compassion as Protective Factors for Parental Burnout among Parents with Disabled Children

“…As well as decreasing parental stress, self-compassion can increase social support, self-care, and positive parenting participation 43 . Self-compassion has been found to be one of the unique predictors of parental stress in parents of disabled children 44 . Self-compassion in parents of children with autism is associated with improved well-being indicators, according to Neff & Faso 45 .…”