Autism最新文献

{"title":"Grief, Relief, and Belief: A Social Media Study on Late Identification of Neurodivergence.","authors":"Ally Pax Arcari Mair, Marina Gonzalez-Figueroa, Doug McConachie, Karen Goodall, Karri Gillespie-Smith","doi":"10.1177/13623613261437916","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613261437916","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Little is known as to what drives feelings of grief and relief observed following the late identification of neurodivergence, and its significance as it relates to sense of self and self-understanding. As such, this study considers how grief is understood and experienced by neurodivergent individuals in the context of late identification. This study used qualitative content analysis to identify themes from 225 public social media posts discussing grief and relief in relation to a late identification. With a sample focused mainly on autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and both co-occurring, four main themes, under an overarching theme and process, titled the Grief, Relief, and Belief Cycle, were identified: (1) The Life I Could Have Had; (2) Grieving for My Younger Self; (3) Feeling Gratitude; and (4) Post-Diagnosis Burnout. Overall, this study calls for a paradigm shift in how we understand and support neurodivergent individuals diagnosed in adulthood, seeing diagnosis as a first step, rather than a terminal component of a service, emphasising the need for comprehensive, individualised, wraparound care that addresses the emotional and practical aspects of their lives before, during, and beyond diagnosis.Lay AbstractLittle is known as to why some individuals may experience feelings of grief and relief following late identification, by clinical diagnosis or self-identification, of neurodivergence (e.g. autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and how this relates to their sense of self. This study looks at how grief is understood and experienced by late-identified neurodivergent individuals using qualitative content analysis to analyse social media posts discussing grief in relation to late identification. A total of 225 public social media posts were analysed. These posts were mostly made by people who identified as autistic, having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or both. Four main themes and one overarching theme and process were identified. The overarching theme was named the Grief, Relief, and Belief Cycle, and the four themes were (1) The Life I Could Have Had; (2) Grieving for My Younger Self; (3) Feeling Gratitude; and (4) Post-Diagnosis Burnout. Theme 1 highlights the sense of loss and regret some late-identified neurodivergent individuals' experience. Theme 2 explores the ways in which late identified neurodivergent individuals look at their past experiences with this newfound understanding of their neurodivergence. Theme 3 highlights the experiences of relief and gratitude these individuals have for the self-understanding that they discuss coming with their diagnosis. Theme 4 emphasises the intense emotional and physical toll and lack of available support that people can experience when their neurodivergence is identified later in life. Overall, this study emphasises the need for comprehensive, individualised, and ongoing care that addresses the emotional and practical aspects of individuals' liv","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1344-1359"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13087149/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147615541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Camouflaging and autism: Conceptualisation and methodological issues.","authors":"Wayne M Arnold, Vicki Bitsika, Christopher F Sharpley","doi":"10.1177/13623613261420085","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613261420085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It has been suggested that there is poor clarity of the 'camouflaging' concept in autism research, and potential confounding of its measurement tools, such as the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q). A critical review of 389 studies was conducted to investigate these potential conceptual and methodological issues. The findings question whether the same construct has been investigated across studies, as there is inconsistency in: (a) which terms are used; (b) reference made to established conceptual literature; (c) how terms are used (e.g. interchangeably or distinctly); and (d) how terms are defined. Although the CAT-Q has excellent reliability, there is mixed support for its validity, which is evidenced by its confounding by other constructs (e.g. social anxiety) and its limited autism-specificity. The validity of informant discrepancy measures of camouflaging is also questioned due to insufficient reference to established methodology. Finally, the generalisability of camouflaging to the overall autistic population is unclear due to: (a) overrepresentation of autistic females diagnosed during adulthood; and (b) underrepresentation of autistic people with co-occurring intellectual or language difficulties, and those with greater support needs. These issues are considered both in terms of their clinical relevance and how future research might resolve them.Lay AbstractMany autistic people have reported using 'camouflaging' strategies to adapt or cope within the non-autistic social world and avoid being negatively judged by other people. However, many terms have been used synonymously with camouflaging, such as masking, compensation and impression management. Due to this confusion about which terms to use, there is some suggestion that there is poor clarity and understanding of the camouflaging concept, and that this may contribute to inaccuracy of the tools used to measure this behaviour. We review 389 previous studies to examine these concerns. Our findings confirm this lack of clarity by showing that studies are inconsistent in: (a) which terms they used to refer to behavioural strategies that resemble camouflaging; (b) whether they referred to existing literature; (c) whether they used different terms to refer to the same concept or to separate types of behaviour; and (d) how they defined the terms that they used. Our findings also question the accuracy of camouflaging measurement tools, as these tools may also be measuring other behaviours (e.g. social anxiety) that are not only experienced by autistic people. We also find that camouflaging studies have mostly focused on autistic females with no accompanying cognitive or language difficulties, and who have received their diagnosis in adulthood. Although camouflaging may contribute to the underdiagnosis of some autistic females, most autistic people are male and are diagnosed during early childhood, and a large number of autistic people do experience those other difficulties","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1131-1146"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13087159/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146257290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Through the long dark night: A phenomenological exploration of treatment-seeking experiences for autism in resource-limited settings.","authors":"Xiaoqing Wang, Kai Yu, Siyan Liu, Chunguang Liang, Zhuo Wang","doi":"10.1177/13623613261426648","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613261426648","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autism care in resource-limited regions faces systemic delays and fragmented services, yet the treatment-seeking experiences of families remain poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the experience of treatment-seeking for families with autistic children in resource-limited settings. A phenomenological study was conducted across three resource-limited regions. Semi-structured interviews with 44 caregivers were analyzed using Colaizzi's framework and qualitative analysis software (NVivo 12). Data analysis identified eight subthemes falling into three macrothemes: (1) Socio-cognitive barriers in symptom recognition; (2) Structural vulnerabilities in care access; (3) Transformative adaptation pathways. The treatment-seeking journeys of families with autistic children in resource-limited settings are shaped by culturally rooted symptom misinterpretations, structural inequities, and adaptive resilience through redefined success metrics. These intersecting challenges trap families in cycles of delayed care and financial strain. Integrated community-based early screening, subsidized tiered services, and long-term care policies are urgently needed to alleviate familial strain and bridge systemic care gaps.Lay AbstractThis study explores the experiences of families seeking autism care in areas with limited resources. Through interviews with 44 caregivers across three regions in China, we found that misunderstandings about early autism symptoms, combined with limited access to specialized services, often lead to delayed diagnosis and high financial costs. Families also face emotional challenges and social stigma. Over time, many develop resilience by adjusting their expectations and finding support within their communities. The study highlights an urgent need for earlier community-based screening, affordable interventions, and stronger long-term support policies to better assist autistic children and their families.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1165-1175"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147430718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brazil's first national census estimate of autism prevalence: Implications for surveillance and policy in the Global South.","authors":"Júlio César Claudino Dos Santos, Luana Stangherlin Dos Santos, Cinara Ludvig Gonçalves","doi":"10.1177/13623613261428537","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613261428537","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autism prevalence data remain scarce in low- and middle-income countries. In 2022, Brazil incorporated, for the first time, a specific question on prior medical diagnosis of autism in its national census. Results from the preliminary publication of the 2022 Census sample, released in 2025, indicated that 1.2% of the population, approximately 2.42 million individuals, reported a diagnosis of autism. Among boys aged 5 to 9 years, prevalence reached 2.6%, declining to 1.6% among adolescents and 0.3% among adults aged 30 years or older. Although based on self-reported diagnosis, these data provide the first nationwide population estimate of autism in Brazil. Comparisons with U.S. figures from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network should be interpreted cautiously given methodological differences. The observed age gradient suggests potential historical under-identification in older cohorts. Regional variation further highlights differences in diagnostic patterns across the country. The inclusion of autism in Brazil's national census represents an important step toward strengthening surveillance, research, and policy planning in low- and middle-income settings.Lay AbstractIn 2022, Brazil included, for the first time, a specific question on medical diagnosis of autism in its national census, as mandated by federal law. Results from the 2025 preliminary publication of the Census sample showed that 1.2% of the population reported a prior medical diagnosis of autism, totaling about 2.42 million people. Among boys aged 5 to 9 years, prevalence reached 2.6%, while rates were lower among adolescents and adults. This age pattern may reflect historical differences in access to diagnosis. Regional variation was also observed across states. Including autism in Brazil's national census represents a major step forward for epidemiological monitoring and policy planning in Latin America.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"1378-1379"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147430710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Social Isolation or Autistic Homophily: An Exploration of the Social Networks of Autistic College Students.","authors":"George W Wolford, Gabriel Varela, Robert E Freeland, Monica L Bellon-Harn","doi":"10.1177/13623613261435994","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261435994","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our understanding of autistic socialization using social network analysis has focused on autistic children and understanding support systems. The purpose of this study is to examine autistic friendship networks in adulthood without focusing on support systems. We broadly recruited autistic and nonautistic college students (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 592 students). Students provided ego-network information, including demographics, satisfaction with their social relationships, and perceptions of their friends (e.g. perceived neurotype and demographics). Autistic college students reported similar network structure metrics (e.g. density, number of friends) as nonautistic college students. Participants of all neurotypes reported similar friendship closeness, social satisfaction, and close mixed-neurotype friendships. However, on average, autistic college students had a higher proportion of autistic and neurodivergent friends than nonautistic college students. To a lesser extent, nonautistic students reported a greater preference for neurotypical friendships. These quantitative results suggest that autistic college students prefer building friendships with other autistic or neurodivergent peers (i.e. autistic or neurodivergent homophily). This preference suggests that authentically autistic (social) spaces and the availability of neurodivergent peers would be beneficial for autistic college students. Overall, these findings contradict the pathologizing \"lack of interest in friendships\" narrative surrounding autism.Lay AbstractPast research on autistic friendships has either recruited children or has focused on support services. We were interested in autistic adults who might not be enrolled in support services. So, we asked college students to fill out an interview form that included information about their traits and the traits of their friends. Based on answers to questions, participants were considered not autistic (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 325), not sure but possibly autistic (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 166), autistic-self-identified but not diagnosed (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 67), or autistic-diagnosed (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 34). Overall, all the groups reported similar degrees of social satisfaction (e.g. quality of friendships). On average, the two autistic groups had the most autistic friends and the fewest neurotypical friends. The \"not-autistic\" group had fewer autistic friends but the most neurotypical friends. However, all groups reported close \"cross-neurotype\" friendships (e.g. \"not-autistic\" people being close friends with autistic people). We concluded that autistic college students probably like friendships with other autistic or neurodivergent people, though college students build friendships with all neurotypes.These findings contradict stereotypes about autistic people preferring to be isolated. This study shows that autistic college students do build close friendships with others. It is important to note that we focused on autistic college students rather than all autistic people. We do not know","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613261435994"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Diagnostic Information, Autism Knowledge, Contact, and Stigma on People's Ability to Read Autistic Individuals.","authors":"Elizabeth Sheppard, Lara Clifton, Jessica Massarella, Georgina Mills Pallares, Polly Moynihan, Michaela Warner, Eleanor Withey","doi":"10.1177/13623613261441153","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261441153","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Non-autistic individuals find it difficult to read the behaviour of autistic people in comparison to non-autistic others. We investigated whether non-autistic people's ability to read autistic individuals is improved by providing diagnostic information, and whether this ability is associated with a person's knowledge about autism, prior contact with autistic people, and autism stigma. Participants (&lt;i&gt;N&lt;/i&gt; = 128) viewed videos that were taken from a previous study. These showed autistic and non-autistic individuals reacting to events enacted by the researcher, and participants were asked to infer what event had taken place. Videos were presented either with no diagnostic information, a correct diagnostic label, or an incorrect label (autistic individuals labelled as non-autistic and vice versa). Autism knowledge, contact with autistic people, and autism stigma were measured by questionnaires. Participants performed less well for videos of autistic than non-autistic others. Diagnostic information had little impact on performance, although labelling non-autistic individuals as autistic reduced accuracy. Autism knowledge, contact with autistic people, and autism stigma were not associated with relative strength in interpreting the behaviour of autistic individuals. We conclude it might be difficult to train people to read autistic people's non-verbal behaviour more effectively; instead, intervention might focus on raising awareness of this issue.Lay AbstractRecent research has shown that non-autistic people are prone to misinterpreting the behaviour of autistic individuals, which may contribute to the difficulties autistic people often experience during social interactions. This suggests that interventions should identify ways to improve other people's ability to interpret autistic people's behaviour. However, little is known about what circumstances may improve non-autistic people's ability to read autistic others. This study investigated whether telling people that someone is autistic would improve their ability to interpret the behaviour of that person. We also investigated whether having more knowledge about autism, having previous contact with autistic people, or holding stigmatic attitudes about autism relates to this ability. The researchers used video clips that were recorded for a previous study. They showed autistic and non-autistic people reacting to aspects of the researchers' behaviour, such as being told a joke or paid a compliment. Participants' task was to watch the video clips and infer what the person in each video was reacting to and accuracy in doing so was recorded. The videos were presented with either no diagnostic information or with a diagnostic label alongside the video, which was either correct or inaccurate (labelling autistic individuals as non-autistic and vice versa). We used questionnaires to assess participants' autism knowledge, previous contact with autistic people, and autism stigma. We found that participa","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613261441153"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Falls and Fall-Related Injuries and Hospitalizations in Autistic Older Adults: A Medicare Data Study.","authors":"Lauren Bishop, Madison Blake, Melica Nikahd, J Madison Hyer, Brian W Patterson, Bethany J Wolf, Brittany N Hand","doi":"10.1177/13623613261433988","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261433988","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fall-related injuries are a major public health issue for older adults, contributing to mortality, morbidity, decreased functional ability, loss of independence, and increased healthcare costs. Autistic older adults may be at greater risk for falls due to motor coordination difficulties and antipsychotic medication use. This cohort study used multivariable logistic regression to compare the odds of falling and negative binomial regression to compare the rate of fall-related injuries. Data from Medicare Standard Analytical Files (2013-2021) for autistic and non-autistic older adults aged 65+ were analyzed. The sample included 13,732 autistic and 25,497 matched non-autistic older adults. Our dependent variables were (1) falls, (2) unique fall-related injuries, and (3) fall-related hospitalizations. Overall, 47.4% of autistic older adults had a fall compared to 31.5% of non-autistic older adults. Autistic older adults also had more fall-related injuries and hospitalizations. Accounting for duration of observation, autistic older adults had significantly higher odds of any fall (odds ratio = 1.99; 95% confidence interval = 1.89-2.08), rate of fall-related injuries (incidence rate ratio = 1.93; 95% confidence interval = 1.86-2.01), and rate of fall-related hospitalizations (incidence rate ratio = 1.43; 95% confidence interval = 1.35-1.51) than non-autistic older adults. These findings highlight the need for targeted fall prevention strategies for autistic older adults to reduce morbidity and mortality.Lay AbstractFalls are a big problem for older adults, often causing injuries and making it hard for them to live independently. Autistic older adults might be at higher risk of falling because of movement difficulties. However, no one has studied how often autistic older adults fall. Our study looked at the difference in fall rates, injuries, and hospitalizations between autistic and non-autistic older adults. We used Medicare data from 2013 to 2021 and included people aged 65 and older. We had 13,732 autistic older adults and 25,497 non-autistic older adults in our study. We matched them based on factors like sex, race, and health status to make sure the comparison was fair. We found that almost half (47.4%) of autistic older adults had a fall, compared to only 31.5% of non-autistic older adults. Autistic older adults also had more injuries and hospitalizations from falls. They had about double the likelihood of falling than non-autistic older adults. The rates of injuries and hospitalizations from falls were more about double for autistic older adults compared to non-autistic older adults. These results suggest that we need special programs to help prevent falls and support the health of autistic older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613261433988"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13124077/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Autistic Traits and Camouflaging: A Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Lachlan Greig, Sarah P Coundouris, Julie D Henry","doi":"10.1177/13623613261437500","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261437500","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Autistic people sometimes camouflage their behaviour to appear non-autistic. This meta-analysis rigorously tests the relationship between autistic traits and camouflaging, examining contributing person- and study-level variables. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched PubMED, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations in April 2025. All quantitative designs examining autistic traits and camouflaging on a continuum were included. Fifty papers (&lt;i&gt;N&lt;/i&gt; = 16,895; ages 10-90) contributed to a three-level meta-analysis (accounting for dependent effect sizes). Study quality was medium to high with no evidence of publication bias. Results revealed a moderate association between autistic traits and camouflaging (&lt;i&gt;r&lt;/i&gt; = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.30-0.39), comparable across sexes. Depression, but not anxiety or social anxiety, moderated the relationship. Age was not a moderator, but the association was stronger in general population samples (vs diagnosed), with self-reported autism measures (vs observational), and when using the discrepancy method for camouflaging (vs self-report). Among camouflaging subdomains, assimilation showed the strongest effect, followed by compensation and masking. Limited sample diversity constrains inferences across the full spectrum. This meta-analysis provides a clearer understanding of when, why, and how autistic traits are related to camouflaging, with important research and clinical implications. No funding was obtained for this study. Registration: https://osf.io/uswtr/?view_only=277aec07cdfc402dae75f4900f291253Lay AbstractUnderstanding the autistic trait and camouflaging relationship is critical to identify who is most vulnerable to camouflaging and the way in which autism and camouflaging measurement may influence our understanding of this phenomenon. This directly impacts clinical diagnosis and support, as camouflaging contributes to diagnostic delay and poorer mental health outcomes, creating a cycle of continued camouflaging. Our findings may help to establish the foundation needed to develop targeted interventions.We completed a systematic search to identify all studies that assessed the relationship between autistic traits and camouflaging. In total, 50 studies met all inclusion criteria. The first author extracted data related to participant characteristics (age, gender, diagnostic status, mental health), autistic trait characteristics, and the camouflaging measurement characteristics.The 50 contributing studies included a total of 16,895 participants (61% female). These data show that the more autistic traits a person has, the more camouflaging they engage in; this relationship is evident for both males and females, and the strength of this relationship does not vary across the adult lifespan. People from the general population show an increase in the strength of this relationship, compared to those diagnosed, and the relationship ch","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613261437500"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147761028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"\"Tell Me What My Job Is\": A Qualitative Exploration of the Experiences of Autistic Academic Staff Working in Higher Education in Ireland.","authors":"Neil Kenny, Alison Doyle, Claire O'Neill, Jessica K Doyle, Jane O'Kelly, Fiona Earley, Stuart Neilson","doi":"10.1177/13623613261440799","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261440799","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This co-produced study explores the experiences of autistic staff working in higher education in Ireland, a group largely overlooked in existing research. While much attention has been given to autistic students, little research has explored how autistic academics navigate their professional roles. This study investigates the challenges and strengths autistic staff encounter within academic environments. Eleven autistic participants took part in semi-structured interviews, conducted flexibly to respect individual preferences and communication needs. Data were analysed using the Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Four key themes emerged: (1) Discovering being autistic, (2) Role ambiguity and institutional invisibility, (3) Stress, burnout, and workplace unpredictability, and (4) Autistic strengths. Participants described strengths such as hyper-focus, problem-solving, and deep commitment to teaching while also highlighting barriers such as unclear expectations, a lack of visibility, and high emotional labour. The findings underscore the need for more inclusive institutional practices that reduce the pressure to mask and protect against burnout. Supporting autistic staff through affirming environments not only enables individuals to thrive but also enriches the wider educational community by fostering diverse approaches to teaching, learning, and communication.Lay AbstractThis study explores the experiences of autistic people who work as academic staff in universities. Autistic staff often face challenges such as unclear job expectations, misunderstandings from colleagues, and barriers to being open about their identity. Through interviews, we learned that many autistic academics care deeply about their work but feel unsupported in environments that reward constant social interaction, speed, and competition. Despite this, participants found creative ways to make space for themselves and others. This research helps us understand what autistic staff need to thrive in universities and shows why workplaces should value different ways of thinking, working, and communicating. Making these changes could benefit not only autistic staff but the wider academic community as well.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613261440799"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147761004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Autistic People's Experiences of and Attitudes Towards Cervical Screening: A Mixed-Methods Study.","authors":"Shona Murdoch, Bethany Donaghy, Aimee Grant, Kayleigh Sheen, David John Moore","doi":"10.1177/13623613261439937","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261439937","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cervical screening can be lifesaving, yet attendance rates are lower than recommended within the general population and even lower within the autistic population. There is currently no published research systematically exploring autistic people's cervical screening experiences. This research aimed to explore the experience of cervical (\"smear\") screening for autistic people in the United Kingdom. Autistic people (<i>N</i> = 97) completed an online mixed-methods questionnaire about their cervical screening experiences. Questions considered experiences of pain, sensory and communication issues, knowledge of cervical cancer, attitudes towards screening, and experience of sexual assault. Findings suggest that an autistic person's intention to attend their screening is important to understand their actual attendance at the screening. Quantitatively, pain, sensory and communication issues, or knowledge of cervical cancer were not associated with screening attendance. However, qualitatively, they were. Two themes emerged: \"Communication disconnect across the care journey\" and\" Echoes of the past: the lasting impact of previous care encounters\" were discussed as barriers to screening engagement. This research highlights the need to improve healthcare communication and other accessibility needs for autistic people when attending cervical screening and for further development of appropriate measurement tools. More research is needed to further inform methods of improving cervical screening services for autistic people.Lay AbstractCervical screening (\"smear tests\") can prevent the development of cervical cancer by spotting the signs early. These screening tests can be lifesaving. A large number of the general population do not attend their cervical screening test when invited, and this is even higher for autistic people. One problem is that there is no research to understand why autistic people might not attend their smear tests. We asked autistic people in the United Kingdom to complete a questionnaire online to see who has attended their smear test when invited and looked at different things that might be important in this decision. Pain, sensory issues, and knowledge of cervical cancer did not seem to be important in explaining who did and did not attend a screening appointment. Communication (before, during, and after the screening tests) and previous negative experiences of healthcare (both in general and previous cervical screening tests) were important. This research further highlights the need for more training for healthcare providers in communication for diverse communities and communication needs. More research is also needed to better understand autistic people's cervical screening and wider healthcare experiences.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613261439937"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}