Families characterized by autism spectrum disorder : A qualitative text analysis by family members’ descriptions of their mutual relationships and the society’s response towards them as a family

The aim of this study was to procure knowledge about how members of families, where one of the members is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, described the mutual relationships, and also how the same family members experienced the response of the society. The study is qualitative and based on ten Swedish autobiographical texts written by different family members. The texts have been analysed through theories by both Salvador Minuchin and Erving Goffman. The result of the study showed that family members, regardless of if it was a sibling, a child, a parent or the person that was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder itself, described a quantity of different emotions about the family relationships in which they were part of. The emotions were described in both positive and negative terms. The family members described the response of the society as varying, they met both condemnatory comments and lack of understanding but also helpfulness, openness and love