Feelings of loss and grief in parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Abstract Background Various authors have reported feelings of loss and grief in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. However, no previous studies have investigated the structure of these feelings. Aims To analyze in depth the feelings of loss in parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Method A qualitative study was conducted based on grounded theory. Twenty parents participated through purposive sampling. Procedure Semi-structured interviews were conducted, asking about different emotional aspects of the upbringing of a child with autism spectrum disorder. Atlas.ti 6.2 program was used for open, axial, and selective coding. Results The core category that explained the feelings of these parents was unexpected child loss, associated with shock, negation, fear, guilt, anger, and/or sadness. Two processes were identified, one associated with the resolution of grief and the other with obstacles to overcoming it. Implications Feelings of loss play an important role in explaining the complex emotions experienced by these parents. Different intervention strategies are proposed.