The lived experience of Maltese mothers of children with Asperger’s Syndrome

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative study is to explore the lived experience of Maltese mothers of children with Asperger’s Syndrome. Four mothers who have children with Asperger’s Syndrome participated in semi-structured interviews. The data obtained was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Five super-ordinate themes emerged: (a) Experiencing drastic life changes; (b) Dealing with society; (c) Experiencing stressors and intense emotions; (d) Managing to thrive in their role as a mother and; (e) Seeing the benefits of parenting a child with Asperger’s Syndrome. The results clearly show that, through the use of beneficial coping strategies, mothers can become resilient enough to overcome challenges and find benefits in their parenting experience. This study can hopefully be used to improve the support structures available for mothers of children with Asperger’s Syndrome and their families.