Parents' attitudes toward affective tactile contact with a child with autism spectrum disorder

Context and relevance. Tactile interaction constitutes a crucial component of the emotional bond between parent and child, fostering attachment formation and psychological well-being. In the context of raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), tactile contact acquires particular complexity due to the sensory sensitivities characteristic of this population. The insufficient exploration of parental attitudes toward close tactile interaction with children with ASD necessitates empirical investigation of this issue. Objective. To analyze the specifics of the attitude of parents of children with ASD to affective tactile parent-child contact. Hypothesis. It was hypothesized that the structure of parents' attitudes toward tactile contact would have specific characteristics in the group of parents of children with ASD, manifesting in cognitive-affective dissonance (recognizing the value of contact in theory while denying its effectiveness in practice), whereas parents of neurotypical children were characterized by congruence of attitudes. It was also hypothesized that tactile experiences in parents' own childhoods would be a significant factor in determining current parenting strategies for both groups. Methods and materials. The study involved 125 parents (mean age 38,0 ± 7,5 years), including parents of children with ASD and parents of typically developing children. An online survey using the Google Forms platform was used to collect data, and statistical conclusions were made using the factor analysis method. The questionnaire comprised statements designed to assess attitudes toward tactile practices in parenting and retrospective evaluation of tactile experiences within the family of origin. Results. Participants from both groups reported insufficient tactile contact in their relationships with their own parents during childhood. Respondents unanimously acknowledged the importance of nurturing tactile interactions with typically developing children; however, parents of children with ASD tended to regard such practices as largely ineffective when applied to their own children. A qualitative distinctiveness in the attitudes of parents of children with ASD has been identified, manifested in a gap between the declared value of tactile contact and doubts about its applicability in a specific situation (cognitive-affective dissonance). A widespread tendency toward so-called "tactile fatigue" — a state of overload with tactile stimuli that causes discomfort both in interactions with children and in adult social interactions — has been identified. This phenomenon is interpreted as a manifestation of parental burnout. Conclusions. The study revealed signs of burnout among both parents of typically developing children and parents of children with ASD, despite the substantially greater effort and resources required for caring for a child with special needs. It has been shown that the experience of raising a child with ASD forms a unique cluster of attitudes associated with caution and conventionality of tactile contact, which reflects cognitive-affective dissonance. The findings underscore the necessity of integrating into psychological support services programs aimed at restoring parents' personal resources, including work on tactile boundaries and overcoming tactile overload. Particular attention should be devoted to developing conscious tactile interaction strategies for parents of children with ASD that account for the child's sensory characteristics and prevent parental resource depletion.