1
Faculty of Sports Sciences, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, 34320, Türkiye
Abstract
This study aimed to comparatively examine the awareness of parents of children aged 4-6 with autism spectrum disorder regarding the motor development process. This research was conducted using a phenomenological research model aimed at deeply understanding participants' experiences. Research data has been categorized into themes using a seven-step analysis method employed in phenomenological qualitative research. Within this scope, five themes reflecting participants' awareness of their children's motor development were identified. The findings reveal that the views of parents whose children received movement training support and those who did not were grouped under common themes, but the meanings attributed to these themes differed between the groups. Parents whose children received movement education support positioned motor development as a fundamental area in the child's overall development process, found connections between motor development and other areas of development, and demonstrated that awareness of this area became apparent through experience. In contrast, parents whose children did not receive movement education support did not evaluate motor development as a priority area. Furthermore, it was concluded that economic and structural barriers to accessing motor development support services negatively impact the translation of awareness in this area into practice.
Hatipoglu Ozcan, G. (2026). Parental awareness regarding the motor development process in children with autism spectrum disorder: A phenomenological study. International Journal of Eurasia Social Sciences, 17(63), 117–127. https://doi.org/10.70736/ijoess.2250
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