scholarly journals ‘I never realised everybody felt as happy as I do when I am around autistic people’: A thematic analysis of autistic adults’ relationships with autistic and neurotypical friends and family

Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1438-1448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine J Crompton ◽  
Sonny Hallett ◽  
Danielle Ropar ◽  
Emma Flynn ◽  
Sue Fletcher-Watson
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Minority Status ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Time ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Social Opportunities ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
Close Family

Many autistic people are motivated to have friends, relationships and close family bonds, despite the clinical characterisation of autism as a condition negatively affecting social interaction. Many first-hand accounts of autistic people describe feelings of comfort and ease specifically with other autistic people. This qualitative research explored and contrasted autistic experiences of spending social time with neurotypical and autistic friends and family. In total, 12 autistic adults (10 females, aged 21–51) completed semi-structured interviews focused on time spent with friends and family; positive and negative aspects of time spent with neurotypical and autistic friends and family; and feelings during and after spending time together. Three themes were identified: cross-neurotype understanding, minority status and belonging. Investigation of these themes reveals the benefits of autistic people creating and maintaining social relationships with other autistic people, in a more systematic way than previous individual reports. They highlight the need for autistic-led social opportunities and indicate benefits of informal peer support for autistic adults. Lay abstract Although autistic people may struggle to interact with others, many autistic people have said they find interacting with other autistic people more comfortable. To find out whether this was a common experience, we did hour-long interviews with 12 autistic adults. We asked them questions about how it feels when spending time with their friends and family, and whether it felt different depending on whether the friends and family were autistic or neurotypical. We analysed the interviews and found three common themes in what our participants said. First, they found spending with other autistic people easier and more comfortable than spending time with neurotypical people, and felt they were better understood by other autistic people. Second, autistic people often felt they were in a social minority, and in order to spend time with neurotypical friends and family, they had to conform with what the neurotypical people wanted and were used to. Third, autistic people felt like they belonged with other autistic people and that they could be themselves around them. These findings show that having time with autistic friends and family can be very beneficial for autistic people and played an important role in a happy social life.

scholarly journals “I never realised everybody felt as happy as I do when I am around autistic people”: a thematic analysis of autistic adults’ relationships with autistic and neurotypical friends and family.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine J Crompton ◽  
Sue Fletcher-Watson ◽  
Danielle Ropar
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Minority Status ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Time ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Social Opportunities ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
Close Family

Please note, this paper has been peer-reviewed and published. You can find the published version at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1362361320908976 and it can be cited asCrompton, C. J., Hallett, S., Ropar, D., Flynn, E., & Fletcher-Watson, S. (2020). ‘I never realised everybody felt as happy as I do when I am around autistic people’: A thematic analysis of autistic adults’ relationships with autistic and neurotypical friends and family. Autism. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320908976 Please do not cite this preprint. Many autistic people are motivated to have friends and relationships, and close family bonds, despite the fact that autism is clinically characterised as a condition negatively affecting social interaction. Many first-hand accounts of autistic people describe feelings of comfort and ease specifically with other autistic people. This qualitative research explored and contrasted autistic experiences of spending social time with neurotypical and autistic friends and family. 12 autistic adults (10F, aged 21-51) completed semi-structured interviews focused on time spent with friends and family; positive and negative aspects of time spent with neurotypical and autistic friends and family; and feelings during and after spending time together. Three themes were identified: cross-neurotype understanding, minority status, and belonging. Investigation of these themes reveals the benefits of autistic people creating and maintaining social relationships with other autistic people more systematically than previous individual reports. They highlight the need for autistic-led social opportunities and indicate benefits of informal peer support for autistic adults.

scholarly journals Relationships and interactions in healthy process to be an adolescent

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adelita Campos Araújo ◽  
Valeria Lerch Lunardi ◽  
Rosemary Silva da Silveira ◽  
Maira Buss Thofehrn ◽  
Adrize Rutz Porto
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Building Relationships ◽  
State College ◽  
Basic Health Units

The purpose of this study is to explore how teenagers view the relationships and interactions in the process of healthily becoming an adolescent. This qualitative exploratory research was conducted with ten teenagers in a state college in a town in southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from August to October, 2007. We used semi-structured interviews to collect the data. Later, we decided to use a thematic analysis, in which two themes emerged: (1) the process of building relationships and interactions in adolescence and (2) the risk in social life. As a result, we realized the importance of interpersonal relationships formed in adolescence, which deserve the nurse’s attention. Nurses can help in the guiding of this population in basic health units, hospitals or schools, to a healthy adolescence. Thus, teenagers may enjoy the relationships built in this process in order to grow and to enter into adulthood.

Lived Experience of Friendship and Mate Crime in Autistic Adults

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Pearson ◽  
Samantha Forster
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Hate Crime ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Specific Subset ◽  
Social Difficulties ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
Prior Experiences

Mate crime is a specific subset of hate crime in which the perpetrator is known to the victim. To date, there is very little research into the perception and experience of mate crime in autism. The aim of the current study was to examine perceptions of friendship and mate crime in autistic adults, using semi-structured interviews. Five adults were interviewed about their experiences of social interactions, friendships and mate crime. Participants described distancing themselves from the ‘disability’ label whilst growing up to avoid condescension and being perceived as vulnerable, whilst learning to camouflage their social difficulties. Feelings of anxiety were associated with socialising, and participants valued relationships that did not place too many overwhelming demands on their time or energy. Finally, all participants had prior experiences of bullying. They understood the concept of mate crime but were unsure as to whether they would be able to identify it in their own lives if it occurred. However they could identify potential support networks in close friends and family. Results highlight the importance of further research into positive and negative aspects of social relationships in autistic adults, and the need to provide support to those who are socially vulnerable.

scholarly journals In the child’s voice: The experiences of primary school children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-434
Author(s):  
Alice Dolton ◽  
Sarah Adams ◽  
Michelle O’Reilly
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
School Children ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
The Impact

In England schools are increasingly responsible for supporting children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties yet their voices are rarely represented. Through semi-structured interviews, the views of 11 children aged 6–11 years with SEMH difficulties were sought. Using thematic analysis two themes were identified – (1) social relationships and interactions, and (2) emotional and behavioural reactions. The children demonstrated that they were articulate and reflective about the impact their difficulties have in the learning environment. For some, they reported building and maintaining close reciprocal friendships which they felt enriched their time at school. It was concluded that children with SEMH difficulties need to feel safe and supported by adults to flourish in school. This work demonstrates the importance of taking a child-centred approach, allowing children to feel heard, understood and valued.

scholarly journals COVID-19, social isolation and the mental health of autistic people and their families: A qualitative study

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110359
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Pellicano ◽  
Simon Brett ◽  
Jacquiline den Houting ◽  
Melanie Heyworth ◽  
Iliana Magiati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Autistic Children ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults

The COVID-19 pandemic and its policy responses have had a detrimental effect on millions of people’s mental health. Here, we investigate its impact on autistic people and their families using qualitative methods. Specifically, we addressed: how did autistic people experience an increase in social isolation during the initial lockdown? And how was their mental health impacted by lockdown? Autistic and non-autistic researchers conducted 144 semi-structured interviews with autistic adults (n = 44), parents of autistic children (n = 84) including autistic parents and autistic young people (n = 16). We deployed thematic analysis to identify key themes. The enhanced social isolation accompanying the pandemic had a serious and damaging impact on autistic people’s mental health and subjective wellbeing. They spoke of intensely missing friends and more incidental forms of social connection. They also reported intense dissatisfaction with the substitution of embodied, person-to-person connection in health services by online/telephone-based alternatives, sometimes accompanied by serious negative consequences. These findings reveal the fundamental importance of supporting autistic people to maintain direct and incidental social contact during the pandemic and beyond. They speak against established theories that downplay autistic people’s need for human connection and the extent to which they have been affected by social isolation during lockdowns. Lay abstract In this study, we show that autistic people and their families have found it very difficult to deal with the lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Autistic and non-autistic researchers spoke to 144 people, including 44 autistic adults, 84 parents of autistic children and 16 autistic young people (12–18 years old). We asked them about their everyday lives and mental health during lockdown. People told us that they enjoyed having fewer obligations and demands compared to pre-COVID-19 life. They felt that life was quieter and calmer. But people also told us again and again how much they missed meeting people in real life, especially their friends, and their therapists and support workers. People told us that their mental health suffered because they did not have contact with their friends and services. Importantly, many people (including researchers) think that autistic people do not want friends or to be around people. But our results show that is not true. Many autistic people do want friends and to be around other people. Some people’s mental health has been damaged by not being able to see people during COVID-19. Autistic people need support in many areas of life so they can keep socialising and seeing their friends even through difficult times, like pandemics.

scholarly journals Bilingualism in autism: Language learning profiles and social experiences

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bérengère Galadriel Digard ◽  
Antonella Sorace ◽  
andrew stanfield ◽  
Sue Fletcher-Watson
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Social Experiences ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Language History ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Autistic Adults

Please note this paper has now been peer-reviewed and published.The published version can be found at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1362361320937845To cite, please use: Digard, B. G., Sorace, A., Stanfield, A., & Fletcher-Watson, S. (2020). Bilingualism in autism: Language learning profiles and social experiences. Autism. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320937845Please do not cite this preprint.Bilingualism changes how people relate to others, and lead their lives. This is particularly relevant in autism, where social interaction presents challenges. Understanding the overlap between the social variations of bilingualism and autism could unveil new ways to support autistic people. This research aims to understand the language learning and social experiences of mono-, bi- and multilingual autistic people. A total of 297 autistic adults (mean age = 32.4 years) completed an online questionnaire including general demographic, language history and social life quality self-rating items. The sample included 89 monolingual English speakers, 98 bilinguals, and 110 multilinguals, with a wide range of language profiles. Regression models were used to analyse how bilingualism variables predicted social life quality ratings. In the full sample, age negatively predicted social life quality scores while the number of languages known positively predicted social life quality scores. In the multilingual subset, age negatively predicted social life quality scores, while third language proficiency positively predicted social life quality scores. This is the first study describing the language history and social experiences of a substantial sample of bilingual and multilingual autistic adults. It provides valuable insight into how autistic people can learn and use a new language, and how their bilingualism experiences shape their social life.

scholarly journals Autistic adults’ experiences of diagnostic disclosure in the workplace: Decision-making and factors associated with outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 239694152110229
Author(s):  
Anna Melissa Romualdez ◽  
Zachary Walker ◽  
Anna Remington
Keyword(s):  
Organisational Culture ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Diagnostic Disclosure ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Organisational Level

Autistic individuals often struggle to find and maintain employment. This may be because many workplaces are not suited to autistic individuals’ needs. Among other difficulties, many autistic employees experience distracting or disruptive sensory environments, lack of flexibility in work hours, and unclear communication from colleagues. One possible way of mitigating these difficulties is for employees to disclose their diagnosis at work. While disclosure may increase understanding and acceptance from colleagues, it can also lead to discrimination and stigma in the workplace. Research has shown that disclosure outcomes are often mixed, but it is unclear what factors are associated with either positive or negative outcomes of disclosure for autistic people. This study aimed to identify these factors and explore the reasons why autistic employees choose to disclose or to keep their diagnosis private. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 clinically-diagnosed autistic adults (12 male and 12 female) who were currently, or had been, employed in the UK (mean age = 45.7 years). Through thematic analysis, we identified three main themes under experiences of disclosure: 1) A preference for keeping my diagnosis private; 2) The importance of disclosure in the workplace; and 3) Disclosure has mixed outcomes. We also identified three factors associated with disclosure outcomes: understanding of autism, adaptations, and organisational culture. These results have implications for improving inclusive practices on both the individual and organisational level to ensure more positive disclosure experiences for autistic employees.

scholarly journals Bilingualism in autism: Language learning profiles and social experiences

Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 2166-2177
Author(s):  
Bérengère G Digard ◽  
Antonella Sorace ◽  
Andrew Stanfield ◽  
Sue Fletcher-Watson
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Social Experiences ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Language History ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Autistic Adults

Bilingualism changes how people relate to others, and lead their lives. This is particularly relevant in autism, where social interaction presents challenges. Understanding the overlap between the social variations of bilingualism and autism could unveil new ways to support autistic people. This research aims to understand the language learning and social experiences of mono-, bi- and multilingual autistic people. A total of 297 autistic adults (mean age = 32.4 years) completed an online questionnaire including general demographic, language history and social life quality self-rating items. The sample included 89 monolingual English speakers, 98 bilinguals, and 110 multilinguals, with a wide range of language profiles. Regression models were used to analyse how bilingualism variables predicted social life quality ratings. In the full sample, age negatively predicted social life quality scores while the number of languages known positively predicted social life quality scores. In the multilingual subset, age negatively predicted social life quality scores, while third language proficiency positively predicted social life quality scores. This is the first study describing the language history and social experiences of a substantial sample of bilingual and multilingual autistic adults. It provides valuable insight into how autistic people can learn and use a new language, and how their bilingualism experiences shape their social life. Lay abstract Bilingualism changes the way people relate to others. This is particularly interesting in the case of autism, where social interaction presents many challenges. A better understanding of the overlap between the social variations of bilingualism and autism could unveil new ways to support the social experiences of autistic people. This research aims to understand the language learning and social experiences of autistic people who speak one, two or more languages. A total of 297 autistic adults (aged between 16 and 80 years) completed an online questionnaire that included general demographic questions, social life quality self-rating questions, language history questions, and open questions about the respondents’ bilingualism experience. Respondents had a wide range of language experiences: there were 89 monolingual English speakers, 98 bilinguals, 110 respondents knew three languages or more, all with a wide range of abilities in their languages. In the full group, younger respondents were more satisfied with their social life, and respondents with many languages were more satisfied with their social life than respondents with few languages. In the multilingual group, younger respondents were more satisfied with their social life, and the more skilled in their third language the more satisfied with their social life. This is the first study describing the language history and social experiences of a large group of bilingual and multilingual autistic adults. It highlights how autistic people can encounter a new language, learn it and use it in their daily life, and how their bilingualism experiences shape their social life.

A qualitative exploration of autistic mothers’ experiences II: Childbirth and postnatal experiences

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110437
Author(s):  
Sarah Hampton ◽  
Joyce Man ◽  
Carrie Allison ◽  
Ezra Aydin ◽  
Simon Baron-Cohen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Postnatal Care ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Direct Communication ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Qualitative Exploration ◽  
Clear Information ◽  
Mothers Experiences

Navigating childbirth and the postnatal period may pose additional challenges for autistic people, who can face communication and sensory barriers to accessing healthcare. However, research exploring autistic experiences of parenthood is scarce. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 autistic and 25 non-autistic women 2–3 months after giving birth. Interviews concerned experiences of childbirth, postnatal healthcare and parenting. Thematic analysis revealed that sensory aspects of childbirth could be challenging for autistic participants; participants highlighted the need for sensory adjustments. Autistic participants stressed the importance of clear, direct communication from professionals during the birth. During childbirth and the postnatal period, autistic participants sometimes felt that professionals lacked knowledge of autism and this could hinder receiving appropriate adjustments. Both groups reported several parenting strengths and challenges. The findings indicate ways in which childbirth and postnatal healthcare can be improved for autistic people, including sensory and communication adjustments. They also indicate a need for greater autism-related training for professionals involved in childbirth and postnatal care. Lay abstract Very little research has looked at how autistic people experience childbirth and the first few months of parenthood. We interviewed 21 autistic and 25 non-autistic women 2–3 months after their baby was born, to find out how they experienced giving birth and being a parent. Some autistic participants found sensory aspects of giving birth difficult, such as noise and being touched. They also wanted healthcare professionals to give them clear information while giving birth. Participants sometimes thought that healthcare professionals did not know enough about autism. Autistic and non-autistic participants both found parenthood difficult at times and autistic parents sometimes had extra difficulties, such as with planning and organising. Autistic participants also felt good at understanding their baby’s needs. This research suggests that autistic people would benefit from changes to childbirth and postnatal healthcare such as being communicated with more clearly. It also indicates that healthcare professionals should receive more training about autism.

scholarly journals “This was just how this friendship worked”: Experiences of Interpersonal Victimisation in Autistic Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Pearson ◽  
Jon Rees ◽  
Samantha Forster
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Social Understanding ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Limited Knowledge ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
The Individual

The victimisation of autistic people by known others (‘mate crime’, or interpersonal victimisation) is an understudied phenomenon despite suggestions that prevalence rates may be disproportionately high. This study recruited autistic adults, and used an online survey to ask them about their experiences of victimisation at the hands of people they know. A thematic analysis revealed three key themes: (1) What counts, which focussed on who the victimiser was and what they did. (2) It takes two (?) which focussed on the experience of compliance, and perpetrator assumptions about autistic social understanding. The final theme (3) Moving forward: time as a healer focussed on how participants had kept going, and found good relationships. Findings contribute towards our limited knowledge of interpersonal victimisation in autistic adults, and suggests any action taken to minimise these incidents focus on both supporting the individual, and reducing harmful societal stereotypes around disability.

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