The life experiences of Turkish mothers who have children with an autism spectrum disorder
TL;DR: The authors explored the experiences of 11 mothers who have children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Turkey and found that the participants showed negative responses after the diagnosis; potential factors could be influential on these responses; the mothers use coping strategies; and mothers shared their future needs.
Abstract: This phenomenological study explored the experiences of 11 mothers who have children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Turkey. Content analysis of data from interviews emerged three themes. They include response to ASD diagnosis, living with ASD, and future perceptions. The findings indicated that the participating Turkish mothers showed negative responses after the diagnosis; potential factors could be influential on these responses; the mothers use coping strategies. Also, mothers shared their future needs These findings, which are hoped to contribute to the limited research literature on the life experiences of mothers, are discussed within the context of cultural elements in this study. The results discussed in terms of implications for future research and practices Keywords: Autism spectrum disorders, mothers, phenomenology, qualitative research
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TL;DR: In this article , the authors investigated the experiences of mothers of multiple children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and found that mothers continue their lives by putting their children with ASD at the center, and they become increasingly lonely in social life.
Abstract: Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the experiences of mothers of multiple children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Method: Nine mothers of multiple children with ASD participated in the research, designed as an interpretative phenomenological analysis study, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. In the data analysis, the interpretative phenomenological analysis method was employed to reveal the mothers’ personal statements and emotional reflections in depth.Findings: As a result of the analysis, three main themes were reached, the center of life: Being a mother of two children with autism, gradually increasing isolation, and empowerment attempts. In line with the findings, mothers continue their lives by putting their children with ASD at the center, and they become increasingly lonely in social life. Mothers experience difficulty in maintaining their daily lives, have intense worries about the future, think that they lack the support resources they need, and feel that having multiple children with ASD causes transformations in their relationships with their spouses and their social networks, which will increase their loneliness. Furthermore, mothers develop various strategies to empower themselves. These strategies have emerged as religious beliefs, comparing their children with each other or with children with more severe disabilities, and focusing on the minor achievements of their children.Discussion: There are few studies on the subject, and the experiences of mothers of multiple children with ASD are similar to the findings of research investigating the experiences of mothers of multiple children with disabilities or mothers of a child with ASD.Conclusion and Recommendations: Whereas mothers of multiple children with ASD experience intense social isolation and put the “motherhood role” at the center of their lives, on the one side, they feel obliged to empower themselves and develop some strategies to this end, on the other side. According to the study findings, it is suggested that arrangements are needed to facilitate the lives of mothers of multiple children with ASD and the experiences of mothers should be examined with studies to be performed with a larger number of participants.
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Book•
01 Jan 1974
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a detailed theory of psychological stress, building on the concepts of cognitive appraisal and coping, which have become major themes of theory and investigation in psychology.
Abstract: Here is a monumental work that continues in the tradition pioneered by co-author Richard Lazarus in his classic book Psychological Stress and the Coping Process. Dr. Lazarus and his collaborator, Dr. Susan Folkman, present here a detailed theory of psychological stress, building on the concepts of cognitive appraisal and coping which have become major themes of theory and investigation. As an integrative theoretical analysis, this volume pulls together two decades of research and thought on issues in behavioral medicine, emotion, stress management, treatment, and life span development. A selective review of the most pertinent literature is included in each chapter. The total reference listing for the book extends to 60 pages. This work is necessarily multidisciplinary, reflecting the many dimensions of stress-related problems and their situation within a complex social context. While the emphasis is on psychological aspects of stress, the book is oriented towards professionals in various disciplines, as well as advanced students and educated laypersons. The intended audience ranges from psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nurses, and social workers to sociologists, anthropologists, medical researchers, and physiologists.
37,447 citations
Additional excerpts
...These strategies are basically problem-focused, emotion-focused, and religious coping strategies (Dunn et al., 2001; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Manning, Wainwright, & Benneth, 2011)....
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01 Jan 1990
12,619 citations
"The life experiences of Turkish mot..." refers methods in this paper
...Research sample was determined in accordance with the purposeful sampling strategy and the standards of qualitative research (Creswell, 2014, Patton, 1990)....
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TL;DR: In this chapter a theory of motivation and emotion developed from an attributional perspective is presented, suggesting that causal attributions have been prevalent throughout history and in disparate cultures and some attributions dominate causal thinking.
Abstract: In this chapter a theory of motivation and emotion developed from an attributional perspective is presented Before undertaking this central task, it might be beneficial to review the progression of the book In Chapter 1 it was suggested that causal attributions have been prevalent throughout history and in disparate cultures Studies reviewed in Chapter 2 revealed a large number of causal ascriptions within motivational domains, and different ascriptions in disparate domains Yet some attributions, particularly ability and effort in the achievement area, dominate causal thinking To compare and contrast causes such as ability and effort, their common denominators or shared properties were identified Three causal dimensions, examined in Chapter 3, are locus, stability, and controllability, with intentionality and globality as other possible causal properties As documented in Chapter 4, the perceived stability of a cause influences the subjective probability of success following a previous success or failure; causes perceived as enduring increase the certainty that the prior outcome will be repeated in the future And all the causal dimensions, as well as the outcome of an activity and specific causes, influence the emotions experienced after attainment or nonattainment of a goal The affects linked to causal dimensions include pride (with locus), hopelessness and resignation (with stability), and anger, gratitude, guilt, pity, and shame (with controllability)
6,982 citations
"The life experiences of Turkish mot..." refers background in this paper
...Individuals make various “causal attributions” about the cause of unexpected stressful events (e.g. ASD) or to search for explanation (Weiner, 1985, 2000; Whittaker, 2002)....
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01 Jan 2014
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to analyse 8 participants' experiences of rejection sensitivity and found that rejection sensitivity is the same concept as abandonment anxiety.
Abstract: Research demonstrates that rejection sensitivity develops through early, continuing, or acute experiences of rejection from caregivers and significant others. Rejection sensitivity refers to individuals who anxiously or angrily expect, readily perceive, and intensely react to rejection. The question regarding why rejection is feared by rejection sensitive individuals remains unanswered by existing rejection sensitivity literature. Therefore, the current study answers this question using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to analyse 8 participants' experiences of rejection sensitivity. Four superordinate themes emerged: `experiences of parenting'; `impact of rejection'; `coping with the concept of rejection'; and `identity'. The primary fundamental finding indicates that rejection sensitivity is the same concept as abandonment anxiety. Participants in the current study demonstrate both rejection sensitivity and abandonment anxiety. Furthermore, the origins and characteristics of both concepts are identified as the same. Therefore, these findings indicate that rejection is feared for the same reason that abandonment is feared. In childhood, abandonment is experienced as terrifying and therefore defences are adopted to avoid further abandonment. The concept of `past in present' means that childhood feelings can be timelessly re-experienced in adulthood as actual and unchanged. Therefore, later rejection situations are perceived as abandonment and accordingly alert an individual to impending danger. As a result, rejection is feared because it is perceived as abandonment and as a threat to survival. This finding is fundamental to the fields of rejection sensitivity and abandonment anxiety, in terms of research and therapeutic work with clients. Integrating existing literature provides much greater depth of knowledge and support for these concepts. Recommended therapeutic approaches for abandonment anxiety can also inform interventions for rejection sensitive clients. Findings also suggest that participants experience annihilation anxiety in relation to perceived rejection, which further increases fear. Clinical applications and implications with respect to the findings arc discussed.
3,365 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The relationship between personal control and stress, coping, and adaptational outcomes is more complex than was once assumed as discussed by the authors, and the relationship between control and coping is examined in the context of Lazarus's cognitive theory of stress and coping.
Abstract: Laboratory and field research indicates that the relationships between personal control and stress, coping, and adaptational outcomes are more complex than was once assumed. Believing that an event is controllable does not always lead to a reduction in stress or to a positive outcome, and believing that an event is uncontrollable does not always lead to an increase in stress or to a negative outcome. These complex relationships involving control are examined in the context of Lazarus's cognitive theory of stress and coping. The first part of the article elaborates this theory and shows how two forms of control, generalized beliefs about control and situational appraisals of control, fit into the overall model. Situational appraisals of control are explored in this section, including the question, Control over what? which must be addressed in order to explain some of the perplexing findings. The second part of the article draws on the theoretical formulation of stress and coping to examine three important issues: (a) how believing one has control in a stressful transaction can heighten threat, (b) the relationship between control and coping, and (c) pathways through which control can affect the adaptational outcomes of stressful encounters.
1,634 citations
"The life experiences of Turkish mot..." refers background in this paper
...These strategies are basically problem-focused, emotion-focused, and religious coping strategies (Dunn et al., 2001; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Manning, Wainwright, & Benneth, 2011)....
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...This is because; individuals frequently use emotion-focused strategies when they have a lower control over stressful situations (Smith, et al., 2008; Folkman, 1984)....
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