Experience of Child Rearing in Balance with Work-Life of Employed Parents who have a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Background: Autism is considered a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Parents' priorities, schedules, lifestyles, and emotional states all change dramatically when their child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parents face more difficult obstacles to balance work-life because of the intricacies of raising a child with ASD. The lack of previous research on this topic highlights how crucial it is to fully understand the intricate workings of both the workplace and childrearing. Aim: The study aimed to comprehensively explore the experiences of child-rearing in balance with the work life of those parents who have a child with autism spectrum disorder. Methods: A phenomenological approach of qualitative study design has been used to conduct the study. Ten employed parents were selected for the study through purposive sampling involving eight mothers, and two fathers from different special schools. A face-to-face semi-structured interview was conducted to collect data from participants through a self-developed interview guide. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis followed by Braun and Clarke’s six steps. Result: The findings explored in-depth information regarding the experience of child-rearing in balance with the work life of employed parents who have a child with ASD. The results highlight the intricate ways that parents combine the responsibilities of work and rearing a child. The findings of the study are described through eight themes. The themes were: i) Understanding autism and initial feeling, ii) Child upbringing experience iii) Balancing work and child-rearing responsibilities iv) Social participation v) Support systems vi) Challenges faced by parents vii) Coping strategies viii) Resiliency. The study described both positive and negative experiences of parents. Conclusion: This study seeks to investigate the various experiences, difficulties, support systems, and coping strategies used by these parents as they juggle their work commitments with the needs of their child, with ASD. The results of the study indicate that parents were unaware of autism and found it difficult to accept that their children had the disorder. Though they did not have enough time for their child because they were working parents, they have done a good job juggling work and raising their children. Parents adopted certain ways to balance these two features. The study also sheds light on parents' complex emotional journeys, which include resilience, guilt, and acceptance of the disorder. This study enhances comprehension of the real-life challenges faced by working parents of children, with ASD providing perspectives for policymakers, employers, and support systems to foster supportive settings. Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, child-rearing, work-life balance, employed parents.