"There is Nowhere Else That I'd Rather be Than with Them": Parents' Positive Experiences Parenting Autistic Children.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

A significant body of research focuses on the negative outcomes of parenting Autistic children, particularly when parents identify as non-Autistic. Less attention has been paid to the experiences of Autistic parents of Autistic children, and even less to the positive or fulfilling elements of parenting Autistic children, regardless of parent neurotype. This study therefore asked: What do parents value about their Autistic children, and what characterizes parents' positive relationships with their Autistic children?

Methods

Here, 40 Autistic and 40 non-Autistic parents completed semistructured interviews to understand better their positive experiences of parenting Autistic children. We analyzed participant responses using reflexive thematic analysis, using

SUBMITTER: Heyworth M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12284749 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature