Date of Publication

3-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology

Subject Categories

Family, Life Course, and Society | Personality and Social Contexts

College

Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC College of Education

Department/Unit

Counseling and Educational Psychology

Thesis Advisor

Aime T. Guarino

Defense Panel Chair

Estesa Xaris Que Legaspi

Defense Panel Member

John Addy S. Garcia
Leo J. Capeding
Ma Cristina Esquivel-Saldivar
Washington C. Garcia

Abstract/Summary

The pursuit of well-being is one of the most basic human desires. On this journey of seeking happiness, unprecedented events occur, and people are put to the litmus test or pushed to the wall. Responding to the problem is essential in such a precarious situation. Mothers who are in the pursuit of well-being when their child is diagnosed with autism also undergo a litmus test in their lives. The present study explored and attempted to understand the well-being of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Karnataka, India. The study’s primary purpose was to use multiple case studies to explore the well-being of the mother-caregivers of children with ASD. It also explored mothers’ challenges, coping strategies, and socio-cultural influences on their well-being. The researcher chose 16 participants with ASD children from Karnataka, India. The data was collected through one-on-one interviews and journaling, and interview data were subjected to reflexive thematic analysis. Member checking, peer debriefing, and auditing were conducted to increase credibility, reliability, and validity. The results exposed (a) the different challenges faced by mother caregivers, (b) various coping strategies used by mother caregivers, (c) the several Indian socio-cultural factors that influenced well-being, and (d) the numerous elements that contributed to the well-being of the mothers of children with ASD. The findings from mother caregivers of children with ASD gave an understanding of well-being among the mothers of ASD children. The study also found that six elements, namely nurturing emotional health, enhanced active engagement in diverse activities, harnessing strength from relationship dynamics, discovering purpose and fulfillment in parenting autistic children, experiencing personal growth and accomplishment, and financial stability, contribute to the well-being of the life mother-caregiver, along with many coping strategies and cultural factors. The study’s findings show how Indian collectivist values of family duty, spirituality and religious beliefs, karma, and gender roles influence caregiving, providing a unique cultural perspective. It spotlights maternal emotional burden, calls for culturally competent mental health support, and offers evidence-based, scalable policy recommendations with real-world implications for caregivers, educators, and policymakers alike.

Keywords: Well-being, mother-caregiver, autism spectrum disorder, coping, stigma, karma

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Mothers of children with disabilities—India; Autism spectrum disorders in children—India; Well-being; Parenting—India; Caregivers—India

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Embargo Period

9-2028

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Available for download on Friday, September 01, 2028

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