She isn’t allowed to get upset about that”: Parenting narratives, caregiving behaviour and child attachment in families of autistic children in middle childhood

This project explored the relational context between parents and theirautistic children in middle childhood. Familial, parental and child factorsmay significantly impact outcomes for autistic children, and represent avital area for research. Specifically, the influence of the caregiverrepresentations, child attachment patterns and parent-child interactionsupon each other were investigated. All three constructs were separatelyassessed in 11 parent-child dyads (22 participants), with children aged 6-11 years who had received a diagnosis of autism. The study employed amultiple case-study methodology utilising Miles and Huberman’sabductive method of data reduction, display and conclusion development,to explore the complexity and connections in the data. The projecthighlighted high levels of adversity in the backgrounds of parents of theautistic children; an elevated level of unbalanced caregivingrepresentations amongst the parents; and evidence of high-riskattachment patterns identified in the autistic children. Looking at theinteraction of these factors, the study showed:1. the relational nature of the behaviour of the autistic children;2. mutual difficulties with emotional engagement, intimacy and co-regulation of affect;3. the irreducibly unique nature of the relationships between autisticchildren and their parents, suggesting a need for bespoke, idiographicunderstanding of them rather than one size fits all explanations;4. that security and sensitivity can co-exist with an autism diagnosis,highlighting the limits of attachment theory to explain all difficultiesexperienced by these families.We suggest that a systemic attachment framework may broaden clinicaland research enquiry, revealing the multiple challenges these families arefacing, and the significant strengths and resources possessed, offeringnew avenues of support.