Abstract

LEMOS, Emellyne Lima de Medeiros Dias; NUNES, Laísy de Lima  and  SALOMAO, Nádia Maria Ribeiro. Focus group with mothers of adolescents with autism based on the bioecological model. Pensando fam. [online]. 2021, vol.25, n.2, pp. 143-158. ISSN 1679-494X.

Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model offers important contributions to the study on family experiences and their interinfluencies. Examples of this are the ecological transition concept and the practice of devolutive research, which were addressed in this descriptive study. The objectives of this study were to describe a research devolutive experience with mothers of adolescent children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and analyze the contents that emerged from their speeches. Five mothers participated in the study, aged between 42 and 50 years. A meeting was held, using the focus group technique, which was recorded in audio and field diaries. The data were transcribed, analyzed, discussed based on the literature and presented in eight categories, referring to two moments of the meeting. The results indicated that the subjects that aroused the mothers' greatest interest were those related to ecological transitions. The ecological validity of the research and the mothers' need for more spaces to share experiences and knowledge of a greater number of resources that could favor support and coping strategies were also found. It is intended, through the description and analysis of this experience, to indicate possibilities of practices aimed at this population and to encourage new studies on the theme.

Keywords : Autism; Mothers; Focal group.

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