Coparenting in the family context of children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the perception of the parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on the coparenting relationship. This research is characterized as exploratory and descriptive with a qualitative approach. Participants included 9 couples, fathers (n = 9) and mothers (n = 9) of children with ASD aged 3 to 7 years. Data were collected in a specialized care service in the south of Brazil. First, a sociodemographic questionnaire was applied and then a semi-structured interview was applied with each member of the couple on the coparenting relationship. For the data treatment, the Bardin content analysis method was used. The analysis of these interviews with the couples allowed the construction of categories according to the dimensions of the theoretical model of the Internal Structure and Ecological Context of Coparenting by Feinberg. Agreement on parenting practices was highlighted in the discourse of couples, although mothers emphasize that partners have a tendency to present a relaxed discipline with the child with ASD. The division of labor evidences an imbalance of tasks performed by the members of the couple, which evidences a feeling of stress in the mothers on the care of their child. Nonetheless, the spouses recognize parental support and recognize the efforts of their partners in parental activities with few moments of sabotage of the partner and exposure of the child to the couple's conflicts. At the end, the limitations of this research are pointed out and some suggestions for future studies in the area are raised, as well as the implications of the results for the intervention.