Experiences of South African fathers raising a child with autism

Abstract

This study emphasises the experiences, challenges and the significance thereof that fathers encounter when raising a child with autism. It explores how this journey influences their interactions with their culture, religion, and language. Additionally, it explores how fathers’ relationships with society change as they manage the complexities of fatherhood. These dynamics impact how men perceive their masculinity concerning societal expectations of their identities and roles as fathers. The children involved in this study have been diagnosed by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or neurologist recognised by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). A minimum age of 3 years was set for the children to provide meaningful insights into the fathers’ experiences, with a maximum age of 18 years at the time data was collected. This inquiry helps us understand how these experiences shape a father's identity. The sample includes seven fathers aged 32 to 50 years from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds: four African fathers, one Indian father, one Coloured father, and one White father. Data were gathered through face-to-face semi-structured interviews at times and locations chosen by the fathers. Recruitment occurred through outreach to private therapy practices to identify appropriate candidates, with additional participants found through snowball sampling. For those unable to participate in person, online interviews were conducted using the Zoom platform. Following data collection, thematic analysis was used to classify the experiences into common and significant themes. These themes include; the loss of an ideal, experiences/challenges within familial, social and or healthcare institutions and finding a new perspective on fathering a child with autism.