Date of Conferral

8-17-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Nicole Hamilton

Abstract

Although parental experiences following a child's autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis have been examined, mothers’ experiences have garnered the most exploration, with comparatively less attention given to fathers’ experiences. There was a gap in knowledge, in particular, on how African American (AA) fathers experience their children's ASD diagnoses while navigating emotional distress within the context of Black masculinity. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how AA fathers experienced their children's ASD diagnoses while navigating emotional distress within the context of Black masculinity. Crenshaw's intersectionality theory served as the conceptual framework. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews with eight AA fathers of children diagnosed with ASD and analyzed using thematic analysis. Six themes emerged from the data: understanding autism and development; navigating emotional distress; restructuring fatherhood; Black masculinity, race, and identity; family and community influence; and advocacy, caregiving, and system navigation. Fathers experienced uncertainty, grief, and distress while redefining fatherhood through caregiving, advocacy, and emotional engagement. Participants described how race, Black masculinity, family relationships, community support, and systemic barriers shaped their experiences. The findings addressed a gap in the literature by providing a more comprehensive understanding of AA fathers' experiences following their children's ASD diagnoses. Implications for positive social change include the potential to increase awareness of AA fathers' experiences as well as inform the development of culturally responsive practices, services, and support systems for families affected by ASD.

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