The impact of caregiver stigma on real-life social experience of Taiwanese adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
Journal
Autism
Journal Volume
25
Journal Issue
7
Pages
1859-1871
Date Issued
2021-05-13
Author(s)
Abstract
Caregivers of people with autism spectrum disorder commonly experience stigma. As a result, they may avoid contact with others, in turn, influencing their child's social participation. This study aimed to explore the impact of stigma perceived by the caregivers on the everyday social experience of Taiwanese adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. We asked 76 adolescents with autism spectrum disorder who did not have intellectual disability (69 males, aged 10-16 years) to carry a mobile device for 7 days. The device prompted them 7 times each day to record who they were interacting with, what they perceived, and how they felt about their social interactions. In addition, we asked their caregivers to complete the Affiliate Stigma Scale to measure their experience of stigma. We found that participants whose caregivers perceived high levels of stigma were more likely to spend time with family members and less likely to be interested in interacting with people at school. Those participants also were more likely to experience anxiety while interacting with family. Our study suggests that it is important for clinicians to implement support services for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and help caregivers in managing stigma to promote their child's social participation.
Subjects
autism; cultural influence; ecological momentary assessment; experience sampling method; real-life experience
Other Subjects
adolescent; adult; Affiliate Stigma Scale; anxiety; Article; autism; caregiver; cerebral palsy; child; controlled study; DSM-IV; ecological momentary assessment; family; female; human; intellectual impairment; major clinical study; male; mental health; personal experience; physiotherapy; psychotherapy; questionnaire; school child; social interaction; social participation; social stigma; speech therapy; caregiver; intellectual impairment; social stigma; Adolescent; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Caregivers; Child; Family; Humans; Intellectual Disability; Male; Social Stigma
Type
journal article