title: Coping strategies of Taiwanese children with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore and describe the coping experiences of children with autism spectrum disorders in Taiwan.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Children with autism spectrum disorders are faced with daily social and living challenges, which can cause stress. Chinese culture emphasises discipline and obedience, which may influence coping strategies of children with autism spectrum disorders in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative study employed an exploratory descriptive design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from in-depth, face-to-face structured interviews. Interviews explored coping strategies of Taiwanese school-aged children (aged 6-19) with autism spectrum disorders. Children (N = 17) and their caregivers were recruited by purposive sampling. Transcribed interview data were thematically analysed using the procedure of Miles and Huberman.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five themes emerged from the analysis of the data, which described the coping strategies of the children: (1) problem-solving, (2) acting-out, (3) avoidance, (4) seeking help and (5) self-regulation. These themes included multiple coping strategies, which employed the concepts of engagement and disengagement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The children with autism spectrum disorder used many strategies to cope with the stresses resulting from behaviours and symptoms associated with the disorder. Most of the Taiwanese children use both problem-solving and emotional-focused coping strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding coping strategies of children with autism spectrum disorder could help caregivers (parents, teachers) and medical professionals develop interventions to reduce these challenges, which could alleviate stress and improve social functioning for these children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Chih
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Yu
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.affiliation: Young Psychiatric, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsueh-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelung, Keelung, Taiwan.|Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sue-Hsien
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011340:Problem Solving; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: children; coping; nursing; paediatrics; psychiatric nursing; qualitative study