‘She isn’t allowed to get upset about that’: Parenting narratives, caregiving behaviour and child attachment in families of autistic children in middle childhood

This project explored the relational context between parents and their autistic children in middle childhood. Familial, parental and child factors may significantly impact outcomes for autistic children, and represent a vital area for research. Specifically, the influence of the caregiver representations, child attachment patterns and parent–child interactions upon each other were investigated. All three constructs were separately assessed in 11 parent–child dyads (22 participants), with children aged 6–11 years who had received a diagnosis of autism. The study employed a multiple case-study methodology utilising Miles and Huberman’s abductive method of data reduction, display and conclusion development, to explore the complexity and connections in the data. The project highlighted high levels of adversity in the backgrounds of parents of the autistic children; an elevated level of unbalanced caregiving representations amongst the parents; and evidence of high-risk attachment patterns identified in the autistic children. Looking at the interaction of these factors, the study showed: 1. The relational nature of the behaviour of the autistic children; 2. mutual difficulties with emotional engagement, intimacy and co-regulation of affect; 3. the irreducibly unique nature of the relationships between autistic children and their parents, suggesting a need for bespoke, idiographic understanding of them rather than one size fits all explanations; and 4. that security and sensitivity can co-exist with an autism diagnosis, highlighting the limits of attachment theory to explain all difficulties experienced by these families. We suggest that a systemic attachment framework may broaden clinical and research enquiry, revealing the multiple challenges these families are facing, and the significant strengths and resources possessed, offering new avenues of support.