Interplay between Tradition and Modernity: Stress and Coping Experiences among Parents of Children with Autism in Beijing, China

Abstract

In traditional Chinese culture, specific beliefs and values can influence parents’ experiences of stress and coping while raising children with autism. However, as China undergoes rapid social changes amid globalization, are these cultural influences still significant for today’s parents of young children with autism? This study delves into this question through 12 in-depth interviews with parents of children with autism in Beijing. Content analysis indicated that while influences from traditional culture remain, modern parents often diverge from them. They adopt Western views on autism to mitigate stigma, establish boundaries with grandparents to ensure effective early interventions, address imbalanced professional dynamics, adjust authoritarian parenting styles, and broaden their social networks. A mix of traditional and contemporary parenting characterizes their experiences. The discussion elaborates on the findings, emphasizing the importance of family support.

Experiences of families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in World Health Organization Afro‐Regions: A scoping review

“…Although unique cultural factors play an important role in the understanding of autism (Divan et al, 2021), the stress experienced by parents raising children with autism is closely intertwined with cultural factors (Wang et al, 2023). Zakirova-Engstrand et al (2020) emphasizes that the families' cultural perceptions and beliefs about the aetiology and prognosis of ASD do affect their ability to recognize the first signs of autism in their children, thus influencing their health seeking behavior, treatment decisions and coping mechanisms.…”