自閉症スペクトラム障害のある児のきょうだいの生活構築

Life Process Developed by Siblings of Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

要旨

　目的：自閉症スペクトラム障害のある児とともに生活するきょうだいが，生活を構築する過程と様相を明らかにすることを目的とする．

　方法：研究方法には，Grounded Theory Approachに基づく継続比較分析法を用いた．

　結果：対象者は，12歳から22歳までのきょうだい10名であった．きょうだいが生活を構築する過程には，『まもるための他者への働きかけ』『同胞の世界との距離を保った付き合い』『自身の存在に対するゆらぎ』『親を気遣う』『同胞を切り離せない将来の生活への思考』という概念が存在し，《まもり》という概念を抽出した．

　考察：きょうだいは，周囲の人々に対し『まもるための他者への働きかけ』を行いながら，家庭では『同胞の世界との距離を保った付き合い』と『親を気遣う』状況を継続させ，その間に『自身の存在に対するゆらぎ』によって発達し，『同胞を切り離せない将来の生活への思考』を進めるという，生活と存在の《まもり》によって生活を構築していく．

　Purpose: This study is to find out how the siblings who live with autistic spectrum disorder individuals（ASD）develop their life process.

　Methods: Continuous comparative analysis based on the Grounded Theory Approach was undertaken.

　Results: Study participants were 10 siblings aged between 12 and 22 years. The life process created by the siblings were found to be composed of the following concepts: approach to others in order to protect their siblings with ASD; interaction with siblings by keeping a distance from their autistic experiences; uncertainty about their own existence; consideration for parents; thoughts for their own future life inseparable from that of their siblings with ASD. The overriding concept of protection was identified by the analysis.

　Discussion: Participants were found to approach others so as to protect their siblings with ASD while continuing to interact with them by keeping a distance from their autistic experiences and to show consideration for their parents. They grow up by experiencing uncertainty about their own existence and their life process through a sense of protection for life and existence, considering their own future life as being inseparable from that of their siblings with ASD.