When Love Meets Autism: Marital Journeys of Turkish Parents Navigating Cultural Expectations and Family Transformation
Family Relations, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1111/fare.70308
- Dergi Adı: Family Relations
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Periodicals Index Online, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, ATLA Religion Database, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Gender Studies Database, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Social Sciences Abstracts, EBSCO Communication Source, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Communication Source (EBSCO), Education Collection (ProQuest), Education Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Sociology Database (ProQuest), Sociology Source Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: autism, family dynamics, marriage, parental experience, structural family theory
- Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective: This study explores the marital experiences of parents raising autistic children in Türkiye, addressing a critical gap in culturally contextualized family research. Background: Raising an autistic child often reshapes family systems and marital relationships due to intensified caregiving demands, emotional strain, and altered life expectations. Although international research has examined these dynamics, limited attention has been paid to the sociocultural context of Türkiye. Guided by Structural Family Theory, this study examines how marital relationships are negotiated within culturally embedded family roles and expectations. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative design was employed. Three focus group interviews were conducted with 22 parents of autistic children recruited through criterion-based purposeful sampling. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to capture shared meanings and patterns across participants' lived experiences. Results: Five themes emerged: (1) Intimate Disruptions: Marital Trajectories in Autism Parenting; (2) Shattered Dreams and New Realities: Confronting Expectations; (3) Divergent Paths: Negotiating Parenting Approaches; (4) Navigating Personal Agency within Collective Family Contexts; and (5) Transformative Meaning-Making: Emotional Resilience and Psychological Adaptation. Findings indicate tensions between caregiving responsibilities and marital cohesion, the influence of culturally shaped gender roles, and adaptive processes over time. Conclusion: Parenting an autistic child presents significant challenges to marital relationships while also enabling adaptive restructuring and resilience. Implications or Recommendations: Culturally responsive, systemic, and couple-focused support services are needed for families in Türkiye to strengthen marital and family functioning.