Psychosocial Support Needs of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Study in Hanoi
List of Authors
  • Nguyen Thi Ha

Keyword
  • autism spectrum disorder, parents, psychosocial support needs, counselling, peer support

Abstract
  • Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) constitute a population exposed to prolonged psychosocial stress due to the continuous demands of caregiving and intervention. This study aims to analyze the psychosocial support needs of parents of children with ASD in Hanoi, Vietnam, and to propose directions for developing support services tailored to the Vietnamese context. A mixed-methods design was employed, including a survey of 98 parents across four intervention centers and in-depth interviews with nine parents of children with ASD. The findings indicate that support needs cluster around three primary domains: (1) individual psychological counseling, (2) participation in peer support groups, and (3) access to reliable, evidence-based professional information and knowledge. The analysis reveals that these needs are closely interconnected, reflecting the multidimensional nature of chronic stress, social isolation, and informational uncertainty experienced by parents in the context of caring for a child with ASD. The results are consistent with international evidence highlighting the role of counseling, social support, and parental empowerment through capacity building. The study proposes integrated support recommendations that combine individual counseling, peer-based support networks, and structured information systems grounded in scientific evidence, with the aim of enhancing parental psychological well-being and improving intervention outcomes for children with ASD in Vietnam.

Reference
  • No References Recorded