Managing Mothers' Expectations in Caring for Autistic Children from a Nursing Perspective: A Qualitative Study

Background:Autism is a syndrome with a deviation or delays in behaviors, communication, and social
interactions. Therefore, a mother needs to have an understanding of caring for a child with autism, and a
nurse needs to understand the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of parents, especially mothers, in caring
for their children. This study aimed to explore the management of mothers' expectations in caring for
children with autism from a nursing perspective. Methods: This research is a qualitative study; semi�structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 7 participants who are parents of children with
autism. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines were
applied to ensure rigor. Thematic analysis was used to carry out this study. Results: This research
identified four themes and 11 sub-themes: (1) Awareness of the limitations of a child; (2) Empathy of a
child's love language for problem-solving; (3) Understanding the acceptance process; and (4) Realistic
expectations for the child. Conclusion: This study provides a detailed list of mothers' expectations for
treating children with autism. Mothers have a way to manage their expectations about their child's
condition. They also have great hopes for their children's future to succeed in their education and life.
Nurses can provide professional nursing care to children with autism, especially in preserving the
mother's mental health.