Otto, Jacinta (2020) Coping Strategies of Older Parents of Autistic Children in Regional or Remote Areas. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Current literature suggests that coping strategies of older carers of autistic children are often avoidant in style and very self-reliant. However, literature reports that parents often use many coping strategies including the use of supports. There has been little research in Australia about older parents of children with autism, or about coping strategies used by this group of parents. This project aimed to explore the experiences of older parent carers, aged above 40 years in regional or remote areas in Australia, and their approach to coping with caring for their child who was still living at home. The seven participants engaged in semi structured interviews via video conferencing; interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Four major themes were identified: (a) caring strategies; (b) supports; (c) parental challenges and opportunities (d) parent reflections. Findings indicated that these ageing parents were coping and doing well despite the range of challenges they faced. Gaining a clearer understanding of the coping strategies used by this cohort of ageing parents could have potential significance for supporting other parents with similar needs and those that support them. This study has contributed to current research through identified themes and experiences of this cohort of parents.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Jan du Preez |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Sep 2025 04:44 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Sep 2025 04:44 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | autism; parent carers; regional area; coping strategies; ageing carers; supports; thematic analysis; |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52642 |
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