title: Caring for an individual with autism disorder: a qualitative analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caregivers in this qualitative study reported the multidimensional implications of having a child with autism on their family's lives and overall functioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Effects of the Situation Questionnaire (Yatchmenoff, Koren, Friesen, Gordon, & Kinney, 1998) was used to gather qualitative data from 80 caregivers. Colaizzi's (1978) phenomenological data analysis method was used to analyse the caregivers' written narratives. Biopsychosocial-spiritual, systemic, and ecological theoretical lenses were used to conceptualise the recorded experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven thematic content areas emerged from the caregivers' data. They include: psychological implications, familial implications, social implications, services, spiritual benefits, economic challenges, and focus on the future of having a child diagnosed with autism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study offer valuable insight into how helping professionals may attend to the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of those caring for an individual with autism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Development and Family Relations, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. kwp0915@ecu.edu
authors.forename: Kenneth W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Phelps
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McCammon
authors.forename: Angela L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lamson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011584:Psychology; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult