Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents in the Transition into Higher Education: Impact on Dynamics in the Parent-Child Relationship

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 2018 May 4

PMID 29721744

Citations 6

Authors

Valerie Van Hees

Herbert Roeyers

Jan De Mol

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study examined how 34 senior students and first-year college students with autism spectrum disorder, their mothers (n = 34) and fathers (n = 26) navigate the higher education transition, and how this context impacts on dynamics in the parent-child relationships. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed based on grounded theory and dyadic analysis principles. Both parties were confronted with an abundance of challenges and experienced strong feelings of ambivalence, stress and anxiety. Differences in perspectives occurred regarding the construction of adulthood, the acquisition of autonomy, disclosure and subscribing to support services. These differences caused tensions in the parent-child relationship, hindering the transformation of the relationship into an adult-like mutual relationship. Clinical implications are extrapolated on the basis of these findings.

Citing Articles

Same Transition, Different Perspectives: Comparing Dyadic Interviews with Autistic Young Adults and Parents.

Steinberg H, Garfield T, Roux A, Shea L, Shattuck P Autism Adulthood. 2024; 6(2):152-161.

PMID: 39119488 PMC: 11304752. DOI: 10.1089/aut.2022.0095.

Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Postsecondary Campuses: Recommendations for Leaders in Higher Education.

Dwyer P, Mineo E, Mifsud K, Lindholm C, Gurba A, Waisman T Autism Adulthood. 2023; 5(1):1-14.

PMID: 36941859 PMC: 10024274. DOI: 10.1089/aut.2021.0042.

Autistic Adolescents' and Their Parents' Visions for the Future: How Aligned are They?.

Kirby A, Diener M, Dean E, Darlington A, Myers A, Henderson J Autism Adulthood. 2022; 4(1):32-41.

PMID: 35663130 PMC: 8992901. DOI: 10.1089/aut.2020.0061.

College as a Developmental Context for Emerging Adulthood in Autism: A Systematic Review of What We Know and Where We Go from Here.

Flegenheimer C, Scherf K J Autism Dev Disord. 2021; 52(5):2075-2097.

PMID: 34060001 PMC: 8720487. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05088-4.

Relationship Between Difficulties Encountered in School Life or Daily Life by Professional Training College Students and Their Sources of Advice.

Fujihara N, Yoshioka S Yonago Acta Med. 2020; 63(1):20-27.

PMID: 32158329 PMC: 7028535. DOI: 10.33160/yam.2020.02.003.

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