How Taiwanese parents of children with autism spectrum disorder experience the process of obtaining a diagnosis: A descriptive phenomenological analysis.
Taiwanese parents walk five predictable steps from first worry to steady coping—meet them at their current step, not yours.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Chao et al. (2018) talked with Taiwanese parents who had just learned their child has autism. They asked parents to tell the whole story from the first worry to life after the label.
The team recorded each parent’s words and grouped similar feelings into steps. They wanted a simple map any helper could read.
What they found
Parents moved through five clear steps: early worry, frantic search for services, anxious second opinions, calm acceptance, and long-term adjustment.
Culture shaped every step. Grandparents’ views, saving face, and temple visits all colored how parents felt and what they did next.
How this fits with other research
Shorey et al. (2020) stitched together 44 Asian studies and saw the same six stress points Kuo-Yu found. The new five-step path fits inside that wider picture like a puzzle piece.
Shyu et al. (2010) showed Taiwanese parents mix medical and spiritual causes. Kuo-Yu’s map starts right after those beliefs form and shows what parents do next.
Singh et al. (2017) found only family support lowers depression in Indian mothers. Kuo-Yu’s parents also lean on family once they reach the acceptance step, echoing the same cultural shield.
Why it matters
Use the five-step map during intake. When a parent is still hunting for second opinions, share short, clear facts and praise their effort. When they reach acceptance, shift to action plans and grandparent coaching. Matching your message to their step builds trust and keeps them in therapy.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
An autism spectrum disorder can result in considerable stress and confusion for parents as they attempt to understand their child's problems and obtain a diagnosis. Few studies have explored the parental experience in the context of Chinese culture. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of parents in Taiwan of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. In total, 15 parents, 1 father and 14 mothers, were recruited by purposive sampling. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews and descriptive phenomenological analysis. The findings indicated that parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder underwent five coping experiences during the diagnostic process: (1) uncertainty and difficulty understanding their child's behaviour, which occurred during the pre-diagnosis phase; (2) obligation to obtain professional services; (3) anxious searching for a second opinion, which occurred during the diagnosis phase; (4) acceptance and fortitude and (5) further adjustment during the post-diagnosis phase. Our findings add to our understanding of how parents experience the diagnostic process, which could improve medical professionals' counselling and support for parents at the stage of obtaining a diagnosis for their children.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2018 · doi:10.1177/1362361316680915