Peer-reviewed article
"Aprendí un mundo diferente": Understanding the help-seeking trajectories and psychological well-being of Spanish-speaking Latine parents of children with autism.
Anaya-Lopez M, Shodiya S, Castellón F, Damacio M, Consoli AJ ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This qualitative study explores how Spanish-speaking Latine parents of children with autism navigate the process of seeking help and support, and how this affects their well-being. The research found that parents face multiple barriers including cultural beliefs, language difficulties, and systemic obstacles that make their path to diagnosis and services non-linear and difficult. The study calls for healthcare services that are culturally and linguistically responsive, with reduced stigma and stronger community support to better help these families.
Key points
- Spanish-speaking Latine families experience significant delays in autism diagnosis and limited access to culturally responsive care
- Help-seeking trajectories are shaped by cultural beliefs, linguistic barriers, and systemic obstacles
- Families of color face persistent systemic barriers that affect both their path to services and parental psychological well-being
- Study identifies need for culturally and linguistically responsive health care services
- Stronger community support systems are needed to improve outcomes for these families
Limitations
This qualitative study with eleven parents provides insights into experiences and narratives but cannot measure the prevalence or severity of barriers across larger populations or test interventions. The study does not evaluate specific services or interventions designed to address the identified barriers.
Abstract
Spanish-speaking Latine families face significant barriers in accessing autism spectrum disorder assessment and intervention services, experiencing delays in diagnosis and limited access to culturally responsive care. Families of color not only face persistent systemic barriers that affect help-seeking trajectories and parental well-being but also encounter cultural differences that play a role in their experiences. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to examine the help-seeking trajectories and well-being of Spanish-speaking Latine parents of children with autism, using the psychosociocultural model as a theoretical framework. Eleven Spanish-speaking Latine parents of children with autism participated in semistructured interviews conducted in Spanish. Thematic analysis within a social constructivist paradigm was utilized to analyze help-seeking trajectories and well-being narratives. Findings revealed five major themes and two subthemes that highlighted a nonlinear help-seeking trajectory shaped by cultural beliefs, linguistic barriers, and systemic obstacles. Findings have implications for the need of culturally and linguistically responsive health care services, reduced stigma, and strengthened community support systems to improve outcomes for these families. Future research should aim to explore the intersecting identities of parenting a child with autism and other cultural identities such as Latinidad that shape the narratives of parents of children with autism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).