A Cross-Disciplinary and Cross-Cultural Review of Six Meta components of Metacognition in Parents of Children with Autism

Abstract

This review discusses Malaysian and Non-Malaysian studies on the metacognitive process of parents of children with autism. It is meant to bridge the gaps between the different fields of education, psychology, counselling and autism support; and to compare how the Malaysian mindset may influence the metacognitive process. Papers are selected from a variety of fields that examine how families with autistic children operate. These papers are then referenced against Sternberg’s six metacomponents. Papers used in this review came from studies involving western families, South-east Asian and Chinese families, and Malaysian families with children with autism. This review was conducted because there is a need for knowledge and understanding about the metacognitive processes in parents, especially in the Malaysian context, where traditional family structures and external supports have changed, shifted or evolved. It serves to validate other parents’ experiences, influence parent training programmes aimed at empowering parents of children with autism, and provide a Malaysian context which is underrepresented in the existing literature.