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Research study
“It’s a balancing act”: Autistic fathers navigating parenting in everyday life by Chris Edwards, Abigail M. A. Love, Ru Ying Cai, Kees-jan Archbald, Dean Dickson, Sean Hynes, Abel Trindade, Sarah Edwards, Bronwyn Leigh and Vicki Gibbs.
What is the study about?
This study explores how Autistic fathers understand and experience parenting at different stages of their children’s lives. It looks at the meaningful and joyful parts of fatherhood, the challenges Autistic fathers face, and the ways that family life, sensory needs, relationships and interactions with services shape their everyday parenting experiences.
Why is it important?
Autistic fathers are almost invisible in existing research, even though many are actively involved in raising their children and supporting their families. When research and services overlook Autistic fathers, important experiences go unrecognised. This can make it harder for fathers to access support that fits their needs, or for professionals to understand their strengths and the challenges they face.
This study is important because it brings these voices forward and helps to show a more complete picture of Autistic family life, including the positive aspects of fatherhood as well as the barriers created by systems and social expectations.
Who participated?
The study included 19 Autistic people who identified as fathers aged between 29 and 61, all living in Australia. Together, they were parenting children aged from 2 to 26 years old. Most participants were highly educated and identified as White or European. Many (68%) were parenting an Autistic child.
What did the researchers do?
The researchers interviewed the participants and asked them about their pregnancy and birth experiences. They then analysed the interview transcripts.
What did they find?
The researchers created five main themes about Autistic fatherhood:
Theme 1: Joy in everyday moments
Fathers described deep satisfaction in simple family routines, shared interests, and watching their children grow.
Theme 2: Becoming myself through fatherhood
Parenting often helped fathers understand themselves better, including recognising they were Autistic. Many aimed to parent differently from how they were raised and valued authenticity with their children.
Theme 3: A balancing act” in daily life
Fathers worked hard to balance sensory needs, emotional energy, and family demands. Many needed quiet time or space to regulate.
Theme 4: Parenting as relational work
Teamwork with partners was important. Some fathers felt deeply understood; others felt pressure to mask or struggled with being misinterpreted.
Theme 5: Systems stacked against us
Many fathers felt overlooked by services, unsupported in parenting roles, or misunderstood by professionals. Social expectations around interacting with other parents could also be overwhelming.
What do these findings mean for me as an Autistic person?
These findings show that many Autistic fathers share similar experiences, even if they may feel isolated or different in their day-to-day lives. If you find deep meaning in small family moments, or if parenting has helped you understand yourself more clearly, your experiences are reflected in this research.
It is also common for Autistic fathers to need time alone to regulate, to feel overstimulated by noise or busy routines, or to find social interactions with other parents challenging. These needs do not mean you are doing anything wrong, they are valid Autistic experiences that shape how you parent and how you stay well.
You may also find that services or systems do not always recognise your role or understand how to support you. Knowing this can help you advocate for what you need and connect with others who share similar experiences.
What are the limitations of the study?
The study involved a small group of Autistic fathers in Australia, most of whom were White and highly educated. This means their experiences may not reflect the full diversity of Autistic fatherhood, especially for single fathers or fathers from different cultural or socioeconomic backgrounds. The study was based on interviews, which means it captures personal experiences but not every possible perspective.
