The experiences of autistic parents diagnosed after their children
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploration of the relational experiences of a parent being diagnosed with autism as an adult after a child’s diagnosis with autism
IRAS ID
325138
Contact name
Aisling Lally
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust - Director of Education/Dean of Postgraduate Studies
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
The proposed research aims to explore how being diagnosed with autism as an adult after a child’s diagnosis is experienced in relationships. Diagnosis of autism in adulthood has increased significantly in the last decade. One aspect of this is the growing number of parents seeking assessment after their child’s diagnosis and are then diagnosed themselves. There is limited research into the experience of autistic people who are parents generally. Little is known regarding how being diagnosed is experienced by parents in their relationships with their autistic child, partners, and others. The proposed research seeks to explore these experiences in a qualitative study utilising semi structured interview.
A letter will be sent to people diagnosed with autism in the past 3 years and discharged within the past one year in one borough of the service I work within outlining the research and who is being invited to participate. Those who contact me will be given the participant information sheet and informed consent form to them and a preinterview briefing contact organised where any questions about participation can be explored
Four to six people will be interviewed, and interviews will take one to two hours. Interviews can be held at the participants home, via econsultation or via phone depending on what the participant would find most accessible. Questions will be sent to participants in advance. Participants who struggle with verbal interviews can opt to complete the interview in writing.
Participants will be given a post interview debrief sheet and a post interview check in meeting will be arranged to check with the participants about any impact from participating in interviews. During the research process, a copy of the interview transcript, a summary of the emerging themes and later a summary of the overarching themes will be shared with participants and comment invited.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SW/0041
Date of REC Opinion
4 May 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion