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<p>This study aims to examine in depth the diagnostic process and post-diagnosis experiences of fathers who have a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The research was conducted using a qualitative design. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview form and analyzed using thematic analysis. The study group consisted of 20 fathers living in Bingöl, Türkiye, who have a child diagnosed with ASD. The findings indicate that fathers in this study described an ASD diagnosis as a sudden and distressing life event, marked at the time of diagnosis by intense emotional shock, grief reactions, and processes of denial. Rather than grieving a physical loss, fathers go through a grieving process related to the loss of the imagined image of the child. In the subsequent period, experiences are shaped around an ongoing psychological burden and anxiety stemming from uncertainty about the child’s future. Social exclusion, financial strain, and societal stigma restrict fathers’ daily lives and increase their need for support. Nevertheless, participants described developing coping strategies that align with faith-based meaning-making and socially constructed masculine roles. Overall, the findings suggest that fathers’ perspectives are important for understanding family adjustment more inclusively and highlight the need to strengthen psychosocial support mechanisms for fathers in the post-diagnosis period.</p>

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“The Pivot of our Compass is our Child”: A Qualitative Study of the Fatherhood Experiences of Fathers of Children with Autism

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月21日

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  • Besime BİLMEZ,
  • Cihangir KAÇMAZ,
  • Osman Tayyar ÇELİK,
  • Neriman ARAL

摘要

This study aims to examine in depth the diagnostic process and post-diagnosis experiences of fathers who have a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The research was conducted using a qualitative design. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview form and analyzed using thematic analysis. The study group consisted of 20 fathers living in Bingöl, Türkiye, who have a child diagnosed with ASD. The findings indicate that fathers in this study described an ASD diagnosis as a sudden and distressing life event, marked at the time of diagnosis by intense emotional shock, grief reactions, and processes of denial. Rather than grieving a physical loss, fathers go through a grieving process related to the loss of the imagined image of the child. In the subsequent period, experiences are shaped around an ongoing psychological burden and anxiety stemming from uncertainty about the child’s future. Social exclusion, financial strain, and societal stigma restrict fathers’ daily lives and increase their need for support. Nevertheless, participants described developing coping strategies that align with faith-based meaning-making and socially constructed masculine roles. Overall, the findings suggest that fathers’ perspectives are important for understanding family adjustment more inclusively and highlight the need to strengthen psychosocial support mechanisms for fathers in the post-diagnosis period.