Koltai Borbála Gabriella, Pados Eszter, Rácz József
Doctoral School of Education, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Institute of Education, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Autism. 2025 Mar;29(3):788-801. doi: 10.1177/13623613241290096. Epub 2024 Nov 19.
This study addresses the underrepresentation of fathers in autism research, particularly those with adult-aged autistic offspring. The authors explored the lifelong experiences and interpretations of fathers raising their autistic sons. Ten Hungarian fathers participated in a one-time semi-structured interview. Interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed four Group Experience Themes: 'A revolving cycle around losing and regaining control', 'Crossing boundaries: accepting and adapting', 'Being in the world as a father: experiences of eternality and liminality', and 'Personal growth through pervading experience'. The findings highlight unique fatherhood experiences and offer implications for professionals and service providers.Lay abstractBeing a father of an autistic son is a profound and complex experience. Fathers adapt to their autistic sons' unique needs and are always in search of services to ease uncertainties about their sons' present and future. We interviewed 10 Hungarian fathers who have adult-aged autistic children. We asked them about their experiences raising their autistic sons during childhood and adulthood. Our study focused on fathers of adult-aged sons because most research has studied mothers' experiences of autistic children under 18 years old. It is also essential to know how to be like a father with adult-aged autistic children. Fathers shared their ongoing struggle with uncertainty, always seeking the best possible solutions for their sons. They also talked about how they understand and adapt to autism and accept their sons with their special, autism-related characteristics. The findings of this research provide a deeper understanding of fathers' parenting experience, giving suggestions for professionals on supporting them and making their experiences valuable to the community of parents raising autistic children.
本研究探讨了父亲在自闭症研究中的代表性不足问题，特别是那些有成年自闭症子女的父亲。作者探究了抚养自闭症儿子的父亲们的毕生经历和解读。十位匈牙利父亲参与了一次半结构化访谈。诠释现象学分析揭示了四个群体体验主题：“围绕失去与重新掌控的循环”“跨越边界：接受与适应”“作为父亲在世界上：永恒与阈限的体验”以及“通过普遍体验实现个人成长”。研究结果突出了独特的父亲角色体验，并为专业人士和服务提供者提供了启示。
摘要
成为自闭症儿子的父亲是一种深刻而复杂的体验。父亲们要适应自闭症儿子的独特需求，并且一直在寻找服务，以缓解对儿子现在和未来的不确定性。我们采访了10位有成年自闭症子女的匈牙利父亲。我们询问了他们在孩子童年和成年时期抚养自闭症儿子的经历。我们的研究聚焦于成年儿子的父亲，因为大多数研究都考察的是18岁以下自闭症儿童母亲的经历。了解如何成为有成年自闭症子女的父亲也很重要。父亲们分享了他们与不确定性的持续斗争，总是在为儿子寻求最好的可能解决方案。他们还谈到了他们如何理解和适应自闭症，以及如何接受儿子具有与自闭症相关的特殊特征。这项研究的结果提供了对父亲养育经历的更深入理解，为专业人士提供了支持他们的建议，并使他们的经历对抚养自闭症儿童的家长群体有价值。
