title: Feelings of loss and grief in parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various authors have reported feelings of loss and grief in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. However, no previous studies have investigated the structure of these feelings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze in depth the feelings of loss in parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study was conducted based on grounded theory. Twenty parents participated through purposive sampling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted, asking about different emotional aspects of the upbringing of a child with autism spectrum disorder. Atlas.ti 6.2 program was used for open, axial, and selective coding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The core category that explained the feelings of these parents was unexpected child loss, associated with shock, negation, fear, guilt, anger, and/or sadness. Two processes were identified, one associated with the resolution of grief and the other with obstacles to overcoming it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Feelings of loss play an important role in explaining the complex emotions experienced by these parents. Different intervention strategies are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Brain, Mind and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Spain. Electronic address: mfernandeza@ugr.es.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernańdez-Alcántara
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: M Paz
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: García-Caro
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Brain, Mind and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: M Nieves
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Pérez-Marfil
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hueso-Montoro
authors.affiliation: Unit of Monitoring and Early Assistance (UMEA), San Cecilio Clinical Hospital, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laynez-Rubio
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Brain, Mind and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cruz-Quintana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004644:Emotions; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D066296:Grounded Theory; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: ASD; Autism; Disability; Grief; Parents; Qualitative