Este estudo investigou os indicativos de resiliência parental no processo de comunicação do diagnóstico de autismo após a avaliação do filho. Esses indicativos representaram o construto da elaboração parental do diagnóstico de autismo. O objetivo do primeiro estudo foi a construção de uma matriz de categorias indicativas de resiliência parental baseada em análise de conteúdo de seis entrevistas de casais com um filho com diagnóstico de autismo. Essa matriz foi base conceitual e empírica do Estudo 2, um estudo de caso cujos instrumentos foram quatro entrevistas de comunicação formal do diagnóstico com um casal de pais. Os objetivos deste foram compreender o papel das crenças dos pais na comunicação do diagnóstico do filho e investigar indicativos de resiliência parental que participaram do processo de elaboração do diagnóstico de autismo ao longo de quatro meses. Os resultados da Análise de Conteúdo apontaram a busca e atribuição de sentido ao jeito do filho e ao autismo como fatores de elaboração na comunicação do diagnóstico. Os resultados foram discutidos com base na concepção do construto de elaboração parental do diagnóstico de autismo. / This study investigated the indicatives of parental resilience in the process of communicating the diagnosis of autism. These indications represented the construct of parental elaboration of autism diagnosis by the parents. The goal of the first investigation was to build an array of categories indicating parental resilience based on content analysis of six interviews drawn from a database. This was the empirical and conceptual bases of the parents elaborations of the diagnostic, investigated on the second study. The goals of the second investigation were to understand the role of the beliefs of these parents in the communication of the diagnosis and to investigate parental resilience indicatives that participated in the process of elaboration of the diagnosis of autism of this couple over four months. The results of the Content Analysis showed the search and attribution of meaning to the characteristics of the son, and to autism as key indicators of elaboration during the communication of the diagnosis. The results were discussed on the base of building the construct of autism diagnostic elaboration by the parents.

Este estudo investigou os indicativos de resiliência parental no processo de comunicação do diagnóstico de autismo após a avaliação do filho. Esses indicativos representaram o construto da elaboração parental do diagnóstico de autismo. O objetivo do primeiro estudo foi a construção de uma matriz de categorias indicativas de resiliência parental baseada em análise de conteúdo de seis entrevistas de casais com um filho com diagnóstico de autismo. Essa matriz foi base conceitual e empírica do Estudo 2, um estudo de caso cujos instrumentos foram quatro entrevistas de comunicação formal do diagnóstico com um casal de pais. Os objetivos deste foram compreender o papel das crenças dos pais na comunicação do diagnóstico do filho e investigar indicativos de resiliência parental que participaram do processo de elaboração do diagnóstico de autismo ao longo de quatro meses. Os resultados da Análise de Conteúdo apontaram a busca e atribuição de sentido ao jeito do filho e ao autismo como fatores de elaboração na comunicação do diagnóstico. Os resultados foram discutidos com base na concepção do construto de elaboração parental do diagnóstico de autismo. / This study investigated the indicatives of parental resilience in the process of communicating the diagnosis of autism. These indications represented the construct of parental elaboration of autism diagnosis by the parents. The goal of the first investigation was to build an array of categories indicating parental resilience based on content analysis of six interviews drawn from a database. This was the empirical and conceptual bases of the parents elaborations of the diagnostic, investigated on the second study. The goals of the second investigation were to understand the role of the beliefs of these parents in the communication of the diagnosis and to investigate parental resilience indicatives that participated in the process of elaboration of the diagnosis of autism of this couple over four months. The results of the Content Analysis showed the search and attribution of meaning to the characteristics of the son, and to autism as key indicators of elaboration during the communication of the diagnosis. The results were discussed on the base of building the construct of autism diagnostic elaboration by the parents.

Este estudo investigou os indicativos de resiliência parental no processo de comunicação do diagnóstico de autismo após a avaliação do filho. Esses indicativos representaram o construto da elaboração parental do diagnóstico de autismo. O objetivo do primeiro estudo foi a construção de uma matriz de categorias indicativas de resiliência parental baseada em análise de conteúdo de seis entrevistas de casais com um filho com diagnóstico de autismo. Essa matriz foi base conceitual e empírica do Estudo 2, um estudo de caso cujos instrumentos foram quatro entrevistas de comunicação formal do diagnóstico com um casal de pais. Os objetivos deste foram compreender o papel das crenças dos pais na comunicação do diagnóstico do filho e investigar indicativos de resiliência parental que participaram do processo de elaboração do diagnóstico de autismo ao longo de quatro meses. Os resultados da Análise de Conteúdo apontaram a busca e atribuição de sentido ao jeito do filho e ao autismo como fatores de elaboração na comunicação do diagnóstico. Os resultados foram discutidos com base na concepção do construto de elaboração parental do diagnóstico de autismo. / This study investigated the indicatives of parental resilience in the process of communicating the diagnosis of autism. These indications represented the construct of parental elaboration of autism diagnosis by the parents. The goal of the first investigation was to build an array of categories indicating parental resilience based on content analysis of six interviews drawn from a database. This was the empirical and conceptual bases of the parents elaborations of the diagnostic, investigated on the second study. The goals of the second investigation were to understand the role of the beliefs of these parents in the communication of the diagnosis and to investigate parental resilience indicatives that participated in the process of elaboration of the diagnosis of autism of this couple over four months. The results of the Content Analysis showed the search and attribution of meaning to the characteristics of the son, and to autism as key indicators of elaboration during the communication of the diagnosis. The results were discussed on the base of building the construct of autism diagnostic elaboration by the parents.

<p>This study explores people’s life experiences when they are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as an adult, the impact of this diagnosis and how they experience living with ADHD. ADHD is often missed as a diagnosis in children whom have inattentive type ADHD, as “characteristic” symptoms such as hyperactivity and impulsiveness are not as prominent and therefore the child does not typically stand out in a school setting as having problematic or challenging behaviours. Consequently many children may navigate through their childhood and teen years not receiving a diagnosis until sometime into their adult years. In an attempt to give this group a voice I have created an opportunity for a small group of adults diagnosed with ADHD as adults to share their experiences in this qualitative research study. Discussions and findings from my research include the participants’ experiences of feeling relieved after being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, their resulting responses of thinking about things differently, changing expectations and seeking more information. Participants shared everyday challenges of living with ADHD including physical and cognitive, challenges of daily living and challenges in the school environment. Participants also talked about the emotional impact when relating their experiences of living with ADHD, including having low self esteem, ongoing struggles with feelings of failure, not fitting in and self blame. The purpose of my research was to inform helping professions, and specifically the social work profession, about the experience of receiving a diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood and the realities of living with ADHD. The last area of my findings and discussion fulfills this purpose as it focuses on professional support.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)