title: Autism spectrum disorders: perceptions of genetic etiology and recurrence risk among Taiwanese parents of affected children.
abstract: In Taiwan, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are an emerging public health concern. The ongoing scientific progress for understanding the genetic etiology of ASD makes it increasingly important to examine how parents of children with ASD perceive the causes and recurrence risk of having another child with ASD. These perceptions may influence their family planning, attitudes toward genetic services, and willingness to take their children for ASD genetic testing. However, previous studies addressing this issue were conducted primarily in Western countries. As culture might shape an individual's views of genetic/genomic disorders, this first-of-its-kind study examined the perceptions of the genetic etiology for ASD and the recurrence risk among Taiwanese parents of children affected with ASD. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted among 39 parents having at least one child with ASD. Although the majority of participants believed that ASD has a genetic link, less than half perceived genetic factors as the cause of their own child's ASD. Moreover, most participants articulated their recurrence risk incorrectly. Some parents were concerned about their doctors' limited genomic competencies. To provide parents with better education, counseling, and support for making reproductive decisions, ASD-related genomic education among Taiwanese physicians is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Foreign Languages, WeiFang Medical University, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Education, National HsinChu University of Education, HsinChu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amuta
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Education, National HsinChu University of Education, HsinChu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: S U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Dhar
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012008:Recurrence; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: Taiwan; autism; etiology; genetics; risk perceptions