NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ1478380
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Aug
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: EISSN-1573-3432
Available Date: 2024-05-20
Experiences of Parental Caregivers of Adults with Autism in Navigating the World of Employment
Christina N. Marsack-Topolewski1; Preethy S. Samuel2
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v55 n8 p2733-2743 2025
Purpose: Caregiving often presents challenges for parents, particularly for parents of loved ones with disabilities or health challenges, who need and/or want to be employed. This study describes the employment experiences of aging parents as they continue to balance engagement in the paid workforce with the ongoing provision of care for their adult children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of parents of adult children with ASD in the context of balancing career and caregiving responsibilities. Methods: The current study uses a qualitative phenomenological research approach to describe the lived experiences of 51 parents who were caring for an adult child with ASD. The parents participated in telephone interviews to obtain information about their career experiences while providing care and support to their adult children with ASD. Results: Three caregiving themes emerged including--(a) difficulty balancing caregiving with work responsibilities, (b) reasons for working, not working, or working intermittently, and (c) work as an escape or wanting to work more. Conclusion: As more individuals with ASD reach adulthood, often relying to varying extents on their families for daily support, parental employment will continue to be impacted as they juggle their career with caregiving responsibilities. Economically, one or more family members typically need to work to sustain the family's needs and employment support should be considered. As a society, families often need to make choices even with an adult child with ASD of who will work, how, and when.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Eastern Michigan University, School of Social Work, Ypsilanti, USA; 2Wayne State University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Detroit, USA