2022 Volume 22 Pages 30-42
Mothers of mother-child dyads where both mother and child have Asperger’s Syndrome were interviewed with the objective of developing a conceptual framework and hypothesis regarding supporting the mother-child relationship. The semi-structured interview focused on the mother’s experiences of interpersonal happiness (childhood to the present). Results were analyzed using the Structured-Construct Quality Research Method (SCQRM) of meta-analysis.
The analysis generated 32 categories which were further classified into 14 subcategories and then into 4 categories. In the category of “interactions that make me happy,” items such as “talks to me gently without getting angry” and “used to pat me on the head” were extracted. In the category of “relationship I want to have with my parents,” the most common response was “I wanted to be treated well.” In order to develop a good mother-child relationship, the mothers not only need to understand the characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome but also need to be able to understand and respond to the relationship needs of their child. It is critical that mothers are supported in identifying and responding to the feelings of their child.
