1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The present study specifically examined differences in parents’ perceptions of the causes of ASD [autism spectrum disorder] and its treatments, as well as early signs in children, based on their country of origin and gender. Some of the salient differences observed between groups could help to understand the needs of these families and their respective service trajectories.» (p. 3476)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«Thirty first-generation immigrant families participated in this study. These families were recruited through two rehabilitation centers serving Montréal and its suburbs. Participants were either on a waiting list for services or had received services from the center; in all cases, they had received a formal diagnosis of ASD for their child.» (p. 3471)

Instruments :
Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

Results show that the «first symptoms of ASD that parents said they had noticed in their child are consistent with those listed in the DSM-5 [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition]. Indeed, parents most often stated difficulties with verbal or nonverbal communication. Thus, parents’ perceptions of symptoms was generally aligned with the current understanding of ASD within the scientific community with respect to symptoms, if not in relation to the causes of ASD. […] Consistently with this observation, the Eastern European families in the present study only listed language-related symptoms. In addition, Western European parents also noted the absence of play, nonverbal communication deficits, and stereotypical behaviors. The fact that a lack of play was primarily reported by fathers may be explained by differences in parental roles with respect to the development of play in their children. Indeed, some authors indicate that mothers’ role towards their children is primarily focused on caregiving, whereas the paternal role is more closely associated with play […]. A more in-depth understanding of fathers’ perceptions as well as how they differ from mothers’, could help guide screening and informational services for ASD. Indeed, if both parents do not perceive the same symptoms, or disagree on what might constitute a potential problem, the family may incur delays in seeking services for their child.» (p. 3476-3477)