Abstract:
The present qualitative research aimed to defining and explaining experiences of mothers of school-age autistic children perceiving affiliate stigma. The study informants were seven mothers who had been primary caregivers of school-age autistic children aged 6 to 12 years old for at least three years and whose perceived affiliate stigma score was higher than 44 points. Data were collected by means of in depth interviews which were audio recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Content analysis. (Sandelowski, 2000) The study findings revealed that the definition of affiliate stigma of mothers of school-age autistic children referred to negative experiences with or reactions from people in society that reflected their rejection, lack of understanding, unacceptance, discrimination, and disgust toward school-age autistic children and their mothers, all of which were caused by autistic childrens inappropriate gestures and behaviors. As such, the mothers felt sad, miserable, and embarrassed since their children were stigmatized which leads themselves to be stigmatized because they were the mother and primary caregiver. In addition, the experiences of mothers of school-age autistic children perceiving affiliate stigma can be categorized into 4 major issues with 15 minor issues: 1) our child being different from other children include hyperactivity, crying and aggressive when their children were upset, violent behavior to themselves and other people and destroy all things, 2) perceived expressions of people in society include staring at autistic children as if they were monsters, rejection and unacceptance, their children were bullied from other people, and the mothers were blamed about their bad caring, 3) effects of disgust include the mothers felt sad, miserable, embarrassed, stress, anger, being fatigued and despond, anxiety and worry about their children to be hurt, and 4) mothers adaptation include avoidance about taking their children into society, telling other people that their children with special needs, let themselves on, focus on the best taking care their children, punishment their children, scolding and having the rude comments. The study findings reflected beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and experiences of mothers of school-age autistic children perceiving affiliate stigma, which could be used as baseline data to generate profound understanding and as a guideline for nurses and healthcare team members to further develop the body of knowledge and to devise a plan to prevent mental health problems among mothers of school-age autistic children including stress, depression, and caregiving burden. The findings could also be utilized to more effectively offer assistance and support mothers to take care of school-age autistic children.