A Study on the Coping Mechanisms of Fathers with Autistic Children and Its Effect on their Role to their Autistic Child

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the coping mechanisms of fathers with autistic children and its effect on their role to their autistic child. Ten (10) fathers with autistic children were interviewed, five of which were members of Autism Society Philippines. The study showed that fathers were emotionally distressed upon learning of their child’s disability. To cope, fathers employed a variety of coping mechanisms. The most common of which was cognitive coping, wherein fathers sought the help of professionals (therapist, doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, and special schools), read books on autism, and planned a program for their child. Another significant finding of the study was that the role of fathers to their autistic child was more on the social aspect. The most common of which was fetching the child to and from school or therapy. On the other hand, the fathers responded that the best role of a father to his autistic child was the affective role. The most common of which was to assure the autistic child that he was loved and accepted. The main determinant of the involvement of the father to his autistic child was how the father coped and accepted the disability of his child. Once these happened, he will be able to shoulder the responsibilities that came with having an autistic child