Human Development & Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Dec;54(12):4624-4636. doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-06145-w. Epub 2023 Oct 24.
Since autism diagnosis is directly linked to the availability of supportive services, identifying best practices for early diagnosis of autism has long been a concern of professionals and families. Meanwhile, studies show persistent racial disparities in autism diagnosis. Although numerous clinical diagnostic guidelines have been published, there is not enough discussion of diagnostic procedures through the lens of culturally diverse families.
This study focuses on the autism diagnostic experiences that Korean immigrant mothers had with their children.
Eleven first-generation Korean-American mothers of children with autism were included in the study. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews in Korean.
The main five factors (i.e., cultural beliefs and values, language barriers, complex emotions, immigration and navigating systems, and facilitators and assets) that mainly influence the diagnosis process were identified through thematic analysis.
Dynamics are interactive within and between the factors, influencing the entire diagnostic process by either delaying or facilitating the identification of a child's autism and the provision of treatment.
由于自闭症的诊断与支持性服务的提供直接相关，因此，确定自闭症的早期诊断最佳实践一直是专业人士和家庭关注的焦点。同时，研究表明自闭症的诊断存在持续的种族差异。尽管已经发布了许多临床诊断指南，但很少有从文化多元化家庭的角度讨论诊断程序。
本研究重点关注韩国移民母亲在其子女自闭症诊断方面的经历。
本研究纳入了 11 名第一代韩裔美国自闭症儿童的母亲。数据是通过韩语半结构化访谈收集的。
通过主题分析，确定了主要影响诊断过程的五个因素（即文化信仰和价值观、语言障碍、复杂的情绪、移民和系统导航以及促进因素和资产）。
这些因素内部和相互之间的动态是相互作用的，通过延迟或促进儿童自闭症的识别以及治疗的提供，影响整个诊断过程。
