Neurodiversity in Practice: a Conceptual Model of Autistic Strengths and Potential Mechanisms of Change to Support Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing in Autistic Children and Adolescents

IF 1.3 Q3 EDUCATION, SPECIAL

Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Pub Date : 2023-07-25 DOI:10.1007/s41252-023-00348-z

Megan Cherewick, Michael Matergia

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

Neurodiversity affirming frameworks are a paradigm shift from a deficit-focused approach to autism to recognizing autism as a heterogeneous constellation of differences in abilities and strengths. This article completed a literature review and data synthesis to (1) identify autistic strengths used in the design of psychosocial interventions, (2) propose mechanisms of change that explain strength-based psychosocial intervention effects on mental health and wellbeing outcomes, and (3) integrate findings in a conceptual model for testing in future research studies.

Methods

A search for articles was completed in June 2023 and resulted in 24 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The Distillation and Matching Model methods were used to code articles and subsequent conceptual groupings generated categorical domains included in the conceptual model.

Results

Autistic strengths identified in the design of psychosocial interventions were grouped into four domains: (1) perceptual, (2) reasoning, (3) expertise, and (4) character strengths. Mechanisms of change were grouped into four domains: (1) affective, (2) behavioral, (3) cognitive, and (4) physiological. The resulting conceptual model presents autistic strengths that can be leveraged in psychosocial interventions and potential mechanisms of change that explain intervention effects on mental health and wellbeing.

Conclusions

Growing focus on the translation of positive psychology has resulted in strength-based psychosocial intervention programs. However, intervention strategies have not leveraged the diverse array of autistic strengths identified by autistic individuals, their families, and their communities. Furthermore, research is needed to determine mechanistic paths by which strength-based interventions achieve positive effects on mental health outcomes in autistic children and adolescents.

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实践中的神经多样性：自闭症优势的概念模型以及支持自闭症儿童和青少年积极心理健康和福祉的潜在变革机制

目的：肯定神经多样性的框架是一种范式转变，从关注自闭症缺陷的方法转变为承认自闭症是一种能力和优势差异的异质组合。本文完成了一项文献综述和数据合成，目的是：（1）识别社会心理干预设计中使用的自闭症优势；（2）提出变化机制，解释基于优势的社会心理干预对心理健康和幸福结果的影响；以及（3）将研究结果整合到一个概念模型中，以便在未来的研究中进行测试。方法2023年6月完成了文章搜索，结果有24篇文章符合纳入标准。结果在社会心理干预设计中发现的自闭症优势被分为四个领域：(1) 感知力、(2) 推理能力、(3) 专业能力和 (4) 性格优势。变化机制分为四个领域：(1) 情感、(2) 行为、(3) 认知和 (4) 生理。由此形成的概念模型展示了社会心理干预中可以利用的自闭症优势，以及解释干预对心理健康和幸福影响的潜在变化机制。然而，干预策略并没有充分利用自闭症患者、其家庭和社区所发现的各种自闭症优势。此外，还需要开展研究，以确定基于力量的干预措施如何对自闭症儿童和青少年的心理健康结果产生积极影响。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Social Sciences-Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

CiteScore

2.10

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders publishes high-quality research in the broad area of neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan. Study participants may include individuals with:Intellectual and developmental disabilitiesGlobal developmental delayCommunication disordersLanguage disordersSpeech sound disordersChildhood-onset fluency disorders (e.g., stuttering)Social (e.g., pragmatic) communication disordersUnspecified communication disordersAutism spectrum disorder (ASD)Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), specified and unspecifiedSpecific learning disordersMotor disordersDevelopmental coordination disordersStereotypic movement disorderTic disorders, specified and unspecifiedOther neurodevelopmental disorders, specified and unspecifiedPapers may also include studies of participants with neurodegenerative disorders that lead to a decline in intellectual functioning, including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, corticobasal degeneration, Huntington’s disease, and progressive supranuclear palsy. The journal includes empirical, theoretical and review papers on a large variety of issues, populations, and domains, including but not limited to: diagnosis; incidence and prevalence; and educational, pharmacological, behavioral and cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, and psychosocial interventions across the life span. Animal models of basic research that inform the understanding and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders are also welcomed. The journal is multidisciplinary and multi-theoretical, and encourages research from multiple specialties in the social sciences using quantitative and mixed-method research methodologies.