Recursive Family Adaptation and Relational Resilience Among Filipino Parents Raising Multiple Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Background: Raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder can be an ongoing responsibility involving care, education, therapy, finances, and family life. These problems can get more complicated when parents have more than one child with ASD. However, few qualitative studies have explored how families adjust following multiple diagnoses and as circumstances continue to change. Although autism caregiving, family resilience, and families with many autistic children have been investigated in prior research, less is known about the daily experiences of Filipino parents within their family, cultural, and service contexts. Purpose: The study examined the lived experiences of Filipino parents of more than one child with Autism Spectrum Disorder and how they comprehended recurrent diagnoses, changes in family life, advocacy, support, and continued adjustment. Methods: The study used a descriptive transcendental phenomenological design, as advised by Moustakas (1994). Eight Filipino parents (five mothers and three fathers) engaged in individual semi-structured interviews. The participants were collectively raising 17 children with ASD. Interviews were conducted in English, Filipino, or both languages and were audio-recorded with the participants' consent. The data analysis includes epoché, horizontalization, identification of significant statements and meaning units, coding, categorization, and thematic synthesis. Individual and composite descriptions of the textural and structural aspects were constructed to discover the shared meanings and the core structure of the experience. Results : Four interconnected themes emerged from the thematic analysis: Confronting Repeated Diagnoses, Restructuring Family Life Around Autism, Advocacy as Parenting, and Resilience Through Continuous Adaptation and Meaningful Support. Parents reported that an additional ASD diagnosis meant they had to go through the emotional and mental adjustment process all over again , but they were able to draw on their experiences of caring for their previously diagnosed children. They routinely modified family routines, responsibilities, budgets, and priorities as their children’s needs changed. Advocacy was an aspect of parenting, as parents coordinated resources, interacted with specialists, navigated institutional barriers, and searched for appropriate options for their children. They developed resilience over time through adaptation and by leaning on family and community relationships, faith and spirituality, parent networks, and their growing experience in caregiving. Conclusion: Findings reveal that Filipino parents raising several children with ASD adjust in a dynamic, relational, and non-linear way. They applied what they had learned from caring for one child while continuing to respond to later diagnoses, changing developmental needs, family circumstances, and service expectations. Recursive Family Adaptation is not a novel theory itself, but a way of interpreting this recurring pattern within a specific setting. The findings also point to the need for accessible, coordinated, and family-centred services that respect parents as active partners in their children’s care and development.