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Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents in the Transition into Higher Education: Impact on Dynamics in the Parent–Child Relationship

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Abstract

This study examined how 34 senior students and first-year college students with autism spectrum disorder, their mothers (n = 34) and fathers (n = 26) navigate the higher education transition, and how this context impacts on dynamics in the parent–child relationships. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed based on grounded theory and dyadic analysis principles. Both parties were confronted with an abundance of challenges and experienced strong feelings of ambivalence, stress and anxiety. Differences in perspectives occurred regarding the construction of adulthood, the acquisition of autonomy, disclosure and subscribing to support services. These differences caused tensions in the parent–child relationship, hindering the transformation of the relationship into an adult-like mutual relationship. Clinical implications are extrapolated on the basis of these findings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Valérie Van Hees & Herbert Roeyers

  2. Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Place Cardinal Mercier 10, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

    Valérie Van Hees & Jan De Mol

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  1. Valérie Van Hees
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  2. Herbert Roeyers
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  3. Jan De Mol
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Contributions

VVH, HR, and JDM developed the study concept and established the study design. VVH collected the data and ran the analyses with guidance from HR and JDM. All authors interpreted the data. VVH performed literature review and prepared the draft with guidance from HR and JDM. All authors contributed intellectually critical revisions of the manuscript. All authors reviewed the final manuscript and gave approval for publication.

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Correspondence to Valérie Van Hees.

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Van Hees, V., Roeyers, H. & De Mol, J. Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents in the Transition into Higher Education: Impact on Dynamics in the Parent–Child Relationship. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 3296–3310 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3593-y

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