“We’ve got a special connection”: qualitative analysis of descriptions of change in the parent–child relationship by mothers of young children with autism spectrum disorder

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Thompson, G. & McFerran, K. S. (2013). “We’ve got a special connection”: qualitative analysis of descriptions of change in the parent–child relationship by mothers of young children with autism spectrum disorder. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 24(1), 3-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/08098131.2013.858762

Publication date: 12 Nov 2013 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)
  1. Grace Thompson *
  2. Katrina Skewes McFerran

Abstract

Young children with autism spectrum disorder face many developmental challenges, most notably in the area of reciprocal social interactions with family and peers. Collaborating with the families of these children in therapy sessions is fast becoming best practice in many countries. This paper presents a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with 11 mothers who participated in family-centred music therapy sessions along with their child. The interview questions focussed on changes to the nature of the parent–child relationship. Analysis of the interviews identified three aspects of positive change to the parent–child relationship, namely: the quality of the relationship; the parents' perception of the child and the parents' response to the child. The changes in the relationship with their child were valued and cherished by all of the mothers, and understanding the impact a family-centred approach might have on the nature of the parent–child relationship needs further exploration.

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These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
60
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
2 / 60 (3.3%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
2 / 93 (2.2%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 2 / 9 (22.2%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 1 / 84 (1.2%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
9 / 93 (9.7%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 6 / 84 (7.1%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
7 / 9 (77.8%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 7 / 93 (7.5%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 5 / 6 (83.3%).
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