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Participants’ experiences of a peer support group for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder
Date Issued
2026
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
ISSN
1062-1024
1573-2843
Citation
Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2026.
Type
Peer Reviewed Journal Article
Abstract
Parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) poses unique challenges, resulting in high levels of parental stress, anxiety and depression. This is exacerbated in Asian communities by lack of understanding and pervasive stigma around neurodiversity and mental health conditions, causing social isolation of the affected families. There is evidence that peer-support groups improve parental mental health and allow them to better cope with the challenges of parenting a child with ASD. This paper reports results of a qualitative study examining parents’ perceptions of a peer support group for Chinese parents caring for a child with ASD in Hong Kong, and reporting their experiences of being in the group. A peer support intervention was conducted. Ten parents of children with autism attended six two hour meetings over a three-month period, facilitated by counsellors at a local community centre. On conclusion of the sessions, participants were interviewed about their experience and the data were analysed thematically. Attending the group helped the parents to feel more understood and less isolated, and they experienced greater self-efficacy and emotional relief as a result of joining the group, which became an ongoing source of support. Peer support groups for parents of children with ASD may be associated with a range of benefits for parents.
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