Soočanje staršev z razvojnimi spremembami pri mladostnikih z motnjo avtističnega spektra : magistrsko delo

Cukjati, Irma (author), Svetina, Matija (mentor)

Mladostniki z motnjo avtističnega spektra (MAS) se zaradi primanjkljajev v socialnih interakcijah in komunikaciji ter neprilagojenih vzorcev vedenj težje soočajo z razvojnimi spremembami v času pubertete. Starši imajo zato pomembno vlogo pri podpori in usmerjanju mladostnikov. Raziskave nakazujejo, da starši mladostnikov z MAS doživljajo kronično povišano raven stresa ter imajo povečano tveganje za težave v duševnem zdravju. V magistrski nalogi sem želela pridobiti vpogled v izkušnje staršev mladostnikov z MAS in raziskati, kako zaznavajo razvojne spremembe in pristopajo k spolni vzgoji ter kako se soočajo s stresom pri vzgoji. Zanimal me je tudi zaznan vpliv MAS na družino ter potrebe staršev po psihološki pomoči. V polstrukturiranem intervjuju je sodelovalo 15 staršev, ki so opisali svoje izkušnje vzgoje mladostnikov z MAS. Podatke sem obdelala s tematsko analizo s programom ATLAS. Udeleženci zaznavajo porast socialnih stisk mladostnikov, samostojnosti, vedenj ponotranjenja, zanimanja za spolnost in partnerske odnose. Izkazujejo težave s prilagojenim vedenjem, senzornimi občutljivostmi in vedenji pozunanjenja. Rezultati nakazujejo na to, da starši zaznavajo številne stresorje, kot so skrb glede prihodnosti mladostnika, mladostnikovo neprilagodljivost in vedenjske težave, nesprejemanje okolice in medvrstniško nasilje. Starši so za spoprijemanje s stresom uporabljali različne strategije, med njimi izobraževanje o MAS, iskanje sistemskih in alternativnih virov pomoči, oblikovanje pristopov regulacije vedenja ter iskanje socialne opore in pozitivna reinterpretacija. Starši poročajo o številnih prilagoditvah družine potrebam osebe z MAS, pozitivnem vplivu na osebno rast in družinske odnose, izzivih v partnerskem odnosu ter stiskah sorojencev. Rezultati nakazujejo na potrebe po dostopni in kontinuirani psihološki opori celotne družine. Starši potrebujejo pomoč predvsem pri sprejemanju diagnoze, spoprijemanju s stresom in preventivi pred izgorelostjo. Ugotovitve lahko služijo strokovnim delavcem pri razumevanju stisk staršev mladostnikov z MAS in oblikovanju intervencij za podporo staršem.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: motnje avtističnega spektra, starševski stres, mladostništvo, strategije spoprijemanja, kvalitativno raziskovanje
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: [I. Cukjati]
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 73 str.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-155991
• UDC: 316.362.1-055.52-055.62(043.2)
• COBISS.SI-ID: 195037187
• Publication date in RUL: 26.04.2024

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Coping of parents with developmental changes in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face difficulties adjusting to the developmental changes during puberty due to deficits in social interaction, communication and maladaptive behaviour. Parents therefore have an important role to play in supporting and guiding them. Research suggests that parents of adolescents with ASD experience chronically elevated stress levels and are at increased risk of mental health problems. This work is aimed at gaining insight into the experiences of parents of adolescents with ASD, exploring how they perceive developmental changes, approach sex education and how they cope with the stress of parenting. I was also interested in the perceived impact of ASD on the family and parents' needs for psychological support. In a semi-structured interview, 15 parents described their experiences in raising adolescents with ASD. I analyzed the data through thematic analysis using the ATLAS program. Participants perceive an increase in social challenges, independence, internalizing behaviors, interest in sexuality, and romantic relationships. They face difficulties with adaptive behavior, sensory sensitivities, and externalizing behaviors. Results indicate that parents perceive various stressors, such as concerns about the adolescent's future, inflexibility, behavioral issues, societal non-acceptance, and peer bullying. Parents used coping strategies such as education about ASD, seeking systemic and alternative sources of help, behaviour regulation approaches, and seeking social support and positive reinterpretation. Parents report many adaptations of the family to the needs of the person with ASD, positive impact on personal growth and family relationships, as well as challenges in the partner relationship and worries about siblings feeling neglected. The results suggest that parents need accessible and continuous psychological support for the whole family. They need help in particular in accepting the diagnosis, coping with stress and preventing burnout. The findings can serve practitioners in understanding the difficulties of parents of adolescents with ASD and in designing interventions to support parents.

• Keywords: autism spectrum disorders, parenting stress, adolescence, coping strategies, qualitative research