Abstract
Parents' Social Support as Media to Improve the Mental Health of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Author(s): Mohammad Nayef Ayasrah* and Mohamad Ahmad Saleem KhasawnehIt has been established that treating the family members of autistic children has a significant impact on the development of autistic children. The quality of parental connections and social support may have a considerable effect on children's behavior, particularly in terms of their adaptation to unexpected situations. The purpose of the research is to further our knowledge of parental social support and coping abilities for children on the Autism Spectrum (ASD). As a form of study, single-case qualitative research is employed. Participants were recruited using an approach that took into consideration characteristics of parents with autism. Complementing in-depth interviews and field observations with primary and secondary sources, the data were compiled. The three steps of a typical data analysis procedure include transforming the data into a more edible format, presenting the data, and making conclusions. This study's findings indicate that parents of children with autism provide their offspring with a variety of social supports, including emotional support (such as warmth, a sense of care, and empathy), reward support (such as positive reinforcement), direct support (such as services and financial assistance), and informational support (both verbal and nonverbal) in the form of advice, new knowledge, motivation, and suggestions. As they learn to navigate the world and make friends, children with autism benefit greatly from their parents' emotional and social support at home, in treatment, and in conventional schools. Social support is beneficial for autistic children because it boosts drive and self-confidence, which leads to a broader range of skills.