Psychological Impact of Raising a Child With Autism: A Real Life Case Study of Expatriate Family

• Published in: Child & family social work
• Main Authors: Maqbool, Samra, Zafeer, Hafiz Muhammad Ihsan, Maqbool, Sufyan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 09.07.2025
• ISSN: 1356-7500; 1365-2206
• DOI: 10.1111/cfs.70011

Raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) entails significant psychological demands for parents, which are further intensified in expatriate contexts due to transnational relocation, cultural dissonance and systemic discontinuities. This phenomenological case study explores the lived experiences of M and J, a Spanish couple who migrated to the United Kingdom while raising their son, H, diagnosed with ASD at the age of three. Through in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews and thematic analysis, the study identifies core challenges, including elevated emotional stress, social isolation, language barriers and difficulties navigating unfamiliar healthcare and educational systems. The findings also reveal the emotional labour involved in sustaining parental identity, negotiating care pathways and maintaining relational dynamics as a couple. Despite these adversities, the family's experience illustrates how resilience can be fostered through supportive networks, adaptive coping strategies and gradual integration into local systems of care. The study's contribution lies in highlighting how emotional dynamics alongside structural constraints shape meaning‐making processes in caregiving. These insights have transferable relevance for other expatriate and migrant families, including those in international development, humanitarian or academic contexts. The findings underscore the urgent need for culturally responsive support services and adaptable policy frameworks that reflect the complex realities of globally mobile families raising children with ASD.