TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the Coping Resources of Caregivers with Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Southern Ghana
AU - Appah, Jennifer
AU - Senoo-Dogbey, Vivian Efua
AU - Wuaku, Delali Adwoa
AU - Akpagloh, Monica Charlotte
AU - Armah, Deborah
AU - Laari, Luke
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
PY - 2025/1/1
Y1 - 2025/1/1
N2 - Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting about 1 in 160 children globally. Caring for children with ASD can be challenging, requiring effective coping strategies. Objective: To explore coping strategies and resources used by caregivers of children with ASD in a Ghanaian healthcare setting. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological approach with an exploratory descriptive design was used. Ten caregivers of children with ASD at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital’s neurology clinic were purposively selected. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically using the ABC-X model of family stress. Results: Caregivers mainly adopted emotion-focused coping strategies, such as acceptance, optimism, prayer, and seeking knowledge. These were supported by individual resilience, familial assistance (especially from spouses and siblings), and communal support from religious groups and healthcare providers. Conclusion: Caregivers rely heavily on emotion-focused strategies and support systems. Strengthening these supports at individual, familial, and communal levels is essential.
AB - Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting about 1 in 160 children globally. Caring for children with ASD can be challenging, requiring effective coping strategies. Objective: To explore coping strategies and resources used by caregivers of children with ASD in a Ghanaian healthcare setting. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological approach with an exploratory descriptive design was used. Ten caregivers of children with ASD at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital’s neurology clinic were purposively selected. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically using the ABC-X model of family stress. Results: Caregivers mainly adopted emotion-focused coping strategies, such as acceptance, optimism, prayer, and seeking knowledge. These were supported by individual resilience, familial assistance (especially from spouses and siblings), and communal support from religious groups and healthcare providers. Conclusion: Caregivers rely heavily on emotion-focused strategies and support systems. Strengthening these supports at individual, familial, and communal levels is essential.
KW - ABC-X model
KW - autism spectrum disorder
KW - caregivers
KW - coping strategies
KW - emotion-focused coping
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105026763759
U2 - 10.1177/30502225251374932
DO - 10.1177/30502225251374932
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105026763759
SN - 2333-794X
VL - 12
JO - Global Pediatric Health
JF - Global Pediatric Health
ER -