Date of Conferral

8-1-2024

Date of Award

August 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Steven Little

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a broad range of symptoms, skills, impairments, or disability. It is characterized by a persistent deficit in group communication and social interaction, limited behaviors such as walking, and less interest in interacting with others and participating in social events. Existing studies suggest that there are many unique challenges associated with caring for a child with ASD. Despite growing evidence of an increase in diagnosis and greater awareness of the challenges associated with caring for children on the autism spectrum, there remains a gap in the research about the unique experiences of custodial caregivers of minors with ASD. The purpose of the phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African Canadian custodial caregivers of minors diagnosed with ASD in Alberta, Canada. The guiding theoretical framework for this study was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system theory. Ten custodial caregivers of children with autism were recruited through purposeful and snowball sampling. Data were collected by conducting semi-structured interviews. Collaizi’s seven-step process for phenomenological research analysis yielded nine emergent themes: motivation for study, caregiver experience, reaction to diagnosis, impact of diagnosis, caregiver routine, cultural conflict, mental state of caregivers, service utilization, desired resources, and recommendations to other caregivers. The positive social change implications of this study include the potential for increased awareness and understanding of ASD, which may lead to greater acceptance and support for families of individuals with ASD within the African Canadian community in Alberta, Canada.

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