Parental Perspectives on Stress and Challenges in Raising Autistic Children: A Meta-Synthesis

Raising autistic children can be challenging, and the current meta-synthesis explores the stress and challenges the parents encounter across life domains. Database searches (JSTOR, ProQuest, EBSCO, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar) were done using the SPIDER method, and 463 articles published between 2011 and 2021 were reviewed. The meta-synthesis adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and included 28 eligible studies centered on stress in parents of children up to the age of 12 years diagnosed with autism. This comprehensive analysis encompassed a collective participant pool of n-505 individuals. Eight stressors were derived using the line of argument synthesis method, which include parental stress due to emotional impact, diagnosis process, social stigma, financial aspects, work-life balance, lack of resources and social support, marital life, and academic setting. Multiple stressors exert a combined effect of individual and systemic factors across domains of life, leading to parental stress. Interventions must be designed considering the complex nature of the parental stress and its interaction with the environment. Psycho-education for awareness and empowerment contribute to parental well-being.