Social and Emotional Challenges Encounter Jordanian Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Mu'tasem M.  al-Masa'deh; Najati A. Younis; Nawaf S.  al-Zyoud; Moayyad A.  Homidi

doi:10.36941/jesr-2020-0118

Authors

Mu'tasem M. al-Masa'deh Special Education Department, Queen Rania Faculty for Childhood, The Hashemite, University, Zarqa, Jordan
Najati A. Younis Special Education Department, Queen Rania Faculty for Childhood, The Hashemite, University, Zarqa, Jordan
Nawaf S. al-Zyoud Special Education Department, Queen Rania Faculty for Childhood, The Hashemite, University, Zarqa, Jordan
Moayyad A. Homidi Special Education Department, Education College, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2020-0118

Abstract

The current study aims to identify daily social and emotional challenges encountered by parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its relation to some demographic variables. The study sample consists of 223 parents whose children having a diagnosis of ASD and receiving services at special education institutions in Amman, the capital city of Jordan. A validated scale was developed to measure social and emotional challenges. Findings revealed that while the most common social challenges were lacking social support, anger and aggression were the parents' dominant emotional challenges in this study. The association between the severity of ASD and the level of challenges was positive, whereas it was negative between household income and challenges. Parents of girls with ASD tended to experience a higher level of challenges.