Mödrar till flickor med Asperger syndrom/högfungerande autism
En jämförelse mellan stressorer och samhällets stöd i Sverige och Spanien
Asperger syndromAutismFamiljMödrarFlickorSamhällsstödStressCopingAnpassningMotståndsresurserUtvecklingsekologiSocial changesTheory of social workSociala förändringarTeorier om socialt arbeteCare and help to handicappedHandikappadeVård och rehabiliteringSocial Sciences
The main purpose of the thesis was to investigate if mothers of girls with Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism experienced the same stressors regardless of society and culture or in which way the stressors might differ.A special purpose of the thesis was to investigate if the society by different types of support could relieve stress and eliminate or reduce stressors.The method of the thesis was to interview three mothers in Sweden and three in Spain, who all had a daughter, 10 - 15 years old, with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism.The result shows that mothers in both countries experienced equal level of stress, though the Swedish mothers got more support from the society. However, the stressors differed. For the Spanish mothers the main stressor was the girls´ problems at school. The main stressor for the Swedish mothers was how to find time to fulfil their different roles, e.g. mother, wife, housewife, professional, friend. The time needed to coordinate the support for the girl was one of the reasons for this.Support at school for the daughters and at habilitation-centers was, together with good knowledge of the girls´ disorder, the most important stress reducers in both countries.