Abstract
The processes experienced by mothers having school-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) when dealing with difficulties were examined. Interviews were conducted with mothers (N=8) having school-aged children with ASD. The results of a qualitative analysis using the Modified Grounded Theory Approach indicated the following processes that are experienced by these mothers. (1) Understanding the problem behaviors of children from different perspectives and recognizing changes in children, and making repeated trials and errors before understanding the children’s characteristics and dealing with them. (2) Changing the lifestyles of mothers through a better understanding of their children, which reduces their confusion. (3) Social support for facilitating the above processes. It is considered important to correctly detect problems in each stage of supporting mothers having school-aged children with ASD by understanding each process described above.
