title: On My Own: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study of Mothers of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been a dramatic increase in autism around the world. However, little is known about the impact of the Taiwanese primogeniture system on mothers of children with ASD. Greater knowledge is needed to understand the life experiences of Taiwanese mothers with ASD children when a healthy male descendent is expected.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research follows the hermeneutic phenomenological approach with in-depth interviews and participant observation (Agar, Speaking of Ethnography. Sage, California, 1986). The researchers collected and analysed stories from seven mothers who are the major caregivers of their school-aged autistic children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data revealed the following themes that represented the mothers' experiences: taking the blame, my world was turned upside down, a child-centred life and two lives as one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings provide a deeper understanding of common expectations of, and behaviours directed towards, Taiwanese mothers of children with autism. This offers healthcare professionals ways of reconceptualizing therapeutic practice, thus benefitting these mothers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.|College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Chien
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi Campus, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied English, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jenks
authors.affiliation: Department of Life-and-Death Studies, Nanhua University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Hsiung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Min-Tao
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013624:Taiwan / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: autism; caregiver; culture; hermeneutic phenomenology; mothers