On the occupations of parents of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is understood as a complex condition with multiple and variable impacts, characterized by behavioral changes that may occur from early childhood. It requires parents to develop strategies in response to new demands, leading to challenges in managing and engaging in occupations. Objective: To understand how the occupations of parents of children with ASD were presented. Method: Descriptive qualitative research. Eight parents of children with ASD participated in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and the responses were assessed through content analysis. Results: The results revealed that parents face difficulties in reorganizing their everyday lives, adapting to tasks, and reconciling their children's occupations. This demonstrates a certain dependence of parents' occupations on those of their children, as they often dedicate themselves to or prioritize the occupational needs of the children. Changes in leisure activities and attempts to adapt them to the children's demands were also noted. Conclusion: The research aimed to understand the occupations of parents of children with ASD and their repercussions. Additionally, it sought to build scientific knowledge about the participants' occupations, enhancing the discussion on the occupational dimension and its specificities. This study provides resources for individuals to analyze and understand their occupational development.