Stressors, cultural values and maternal well-being in Taiwanese mothers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

In this study, 67 mothers of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Taiwan were recruited to investigate their perceptions of stressors embedded in the Chinese culture, Chinese cultural values and maternal well-being when caring for their son or daughter with ASD. Mothers completed self-administered written questionnaires and participated in a semi-structured interview. Taiwanese mothers reported experiencing high levels of strain caring for their son or daughter with an ASD. About one-third of the mothers perceived that stressors had negative impacts on caregiving burden and depressive symptoms when raising their son or daughter. Chinese cultural values may help some Taiwanese mothers reappraise the stress and motivate them to engage in the caregiving tasks. This study explores how mothers care for adolescents and adults with ASD within a Chinese cultural context.

Keywords:

• autism spectrum disorder
• caregiver burden
• Chinese cultural values
• depressive symptoms
• stressors
• Taiwan

Acknowledgement

We thank all families who participated in this research, the Autism Society Taiwan, R.O.C. and the parents associations of autism in Taiwan.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ling-Yi Lin

Dr. Ling-Yi Lin is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. Her research interests are mainly focused on outcomes of children, adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder and their family issues.