Autism最新文献

{"title":"Camouflaging and identity development among autistic female and gender-diverse youth: A qualitative exploration.","authors":"Krista N Drapalik, Daniel J Magin, Melissa L Rinaldi, Kristin V Christodulu","doi":"10.1177/13623613251345855","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613251345855","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental period for autistic youth. Autistic adolescents often use camouflaging to combat social challenges, perceived differences, and stigmatization. Although adolescence is an integral period for identity development, integration of these topics remains understudied in current literature. Evidence of elevated camouflaging rates among autistic females and gender-diverse adults underscores the need to examine the developmental trajectory of these topics. The present study qualitatively explored first-person perspectives on camouflaging and identity formation among autistic female and gender-diverse youth. Ten autistic adolescents (female: <i>n</i> = 7; gender diverse: <i>n</i> = 3) and their caregivers were enrolled in the present study. Youths completed a semi-structured interview or focus group discussion. Data were qualitatively analyzed and produced several prominent themes in three domains of investigation: (1) the nuts and bolts of camouflaging, (2) the aftermath of camouflaging, and (3) understanding being autistic. Identified themes and subthemes are discussed. Results demonstrated that autistic youth employ complex camouflaging strategies, motivated and reinforced by their experiences within society, that hold damaging consequences for their self-understanding and well-being. These findings reinforce the harmful implications of camouflaging on youths' positive identity development, mental health, and well-being. Implications and future directions are discussed.Lay AbstractAdolescence is a challenging time for autistic youth. Many autistic adolescents change their behavior in social situations to adapt or cope with social challenges, feeling different, and/or stigma. We conducted in-depth discussions with autistic adolescents who identify as female or gender-diverse to understand how changing their behavior in social situations impacts their identity, or self-understanding. Ten autistic adolescents and their caregivers were included in the study. Discussions were analyzed to understand how and why youths change their social behavior and the impact it has on their self-understanding. Participants described using many complex strategies to change their social behavior that are influenced by negative views our society has about people's differences. The strategies often harmed participants' self-understanding and negatively affected their overall well-being. The results are important for understanding how to support autistic adolescents' self-understanding, mental health, and well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"2535-2549"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144324416","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":"Population-level gender-based analysis of the educational journeys of students with autism spectrum disorder in British Columbia, Canada.","authors":"Jennifer Baumbusch, Jennifer Ev Lloyd, Vanessa C Fong","doi":"10.1177/13623613251345532","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613251345532","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Research examining the impact of gender on educational outcomes in autistic students has been sparse. To address this gap, this study investigated the educational journeys of students with autism spectrum disorder in British Columbia, Canada. We examined (1) the time it takes for students to receive an initial autism spectrum disorder designation; and the frequency and percentage of students who (2) stay longitudinally in the Kindergarten-to-Grade 12 school system; (3) complete high school and the credential earned; and (4) proceed to public post-secondary education within British Columbia. We conducted secondary analyses of administrative data. The autism spectrum disorder student population was divided into eight longitudinal cohorts with a combined final sample size of 4282 students with autism spectrum disorder: 738 female (17.2%) and 3544 (82.8%) male. Descriptive analyses indicated statistically significant gender differences in students' time to initial autism spectrum disorder designation, rates of high school completion and the specific high school credential earned. No gender differences were found in post-secondary transition rates. During their formative education years, gender differences, particularly the delay in autism spectrum disorder diagnosis among girls, may have implications with respect to educational outcomes. Results emphasize the need to provide educators with greater information about recognizing gender differences in autism spectrum disorder.Lay Abstract&lt;u&gt;a. What is already known about the topic?&lt;/u&gt;Over the past several years, there is growing acknowledgement of gender inequities among people with autism spectrum disorder. The inequity is evidenced, in part, by gender differences in diagnosis. Although the gender gap is narrowing, until recently the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder has largely favoured and is more sensitive to detecting autism spectrum disorder in boys.&lt;u&gt;b. What does this paper add?&lt;/u&gt;Research examining the impact of gender on educational outcomes in autistic students has been sparse. To address this gap in the literature, the current study investigated the educational journeys of students with autism spectrum disorder in British Columbia, Canada.We found statistically significant gender differences in students' time to initial autism spectrum disorder designation, rates of high school completion and the specific high school credential earned. There were, however, no significant differences in whether or not students stayed longitudinally in the K-12 school system over time, whether students transitioned into post-secondary or not (non-developmental or developmental), nor in students' transition times into the respective post-secondary education programmes.This study highlights the value of longitudinal, population-based and student-level data in conducting gender-based analyses in autism spectrum disorder research.&lt;u&gt;c. Implications for practice, research or policy&lt;/u&gt;Underst","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"2550-2561"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12417614/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144339877","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":"The effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and experiences of interventions to reduce suicidality for autistic people: A scoping review.","authors":"Noreen Orr, Liz Shaw, Simon Briscoe, Hassanat M Lawal, Clara Martin-Pintado, Malcolm Turner, Jo Thompson Coon, Ruth Garside, G J Melendez-Torres","doi":"10.1177/13623613251376208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251376208","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autistic people and people with elevated autistic traits are at a higher risk of suicidality (suicidal ideation, suicide plans, suicide attempts) than the general population, with over a third of autistic and possibly autistic people experiencing suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts and/or behaviour. The high prevalence of suicidality has been associated with lack of support and interventions to meet the specific needs of autistic people. This scoping review aimed to better understand the quantity and nature of existing primary research evaluating interventions to support autistic people experiencing suicidality, to inform the commissioning of future primary research. Twenty-seven studies were included: 18 focused on evaluating or developing interventions to reduce suicidality, and nine on evaluating/developing screening procedures to identify autistic people potentially at risk of dying by suicide. Findings suggest researchers are adapting and testing interventions to reduce suicidality in partnership with autistic people, but there is still work needed to enable autistic people to communicate suicidal thoughts and behaviours and develop clinician knowledge and understanding. While the number of completed studies using robust methods such as randomised controlled trials was small, this review indicates a nascent body of research evidence on interventions to reduce suicidality in the autistic population.Lay abstractAutistic, or potentially autistic, people are at higher risk of experiencing suicidality than the general population. This has been linked to a lack of support and treatments that meet the specific needs of autistic people. This scoping review brings together research developing or evaluating strategies that aim to reduce the risk of autistic people dying by suicide. We reviewed 27 studies and found that there is a small but growing number of research projects that involve autistic people to develop treatments to reduce suicidality. For example, we found a study that has adapted and tested safety planning for autistic people. Other research has been testing tools that identify and assess suicidality and understanding healthcare professionals' perspectives on assessing suicidality. More work is needed to develop training for professionals and on adapting assessment tools so that autistic people find it easier to talk about suicidal thoughts. Future research should also aim to be inclusive of the autistic population and ensure gender and cultural diversity in those that participate in research projects. Larger trials will be needed in the future to investigate the effectiveness of treatments for autistic people and build on existing evidence.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251376208"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145184715","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":"Latent trajectories in autistic individuals: A systematic review.","authors":"Kamil R Hiralal, Gwendolyn C Dieleman, Britt R Kok, Luka D Diederen, Rana P Duman, Manon Hj Hillegers, Sabine E Mous","doi":"10.1177/13623613251370818","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251370818","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autism is heterogenic in core and co-occurring characteristics. Subtyping autism in a longitudinal manner aids the understanding of autism development throughout life and thus enhances personalized support. In this systematic review, we summarized the literature on latent core autism characteristics trajectories and trajectories of other functional domains in autistic individuals and identified predictors of trajectory assignment. We searched Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, and Google Scholar until April 22, 2025. We included longitudinal observational studies that applied statistical subtyping methods on core autism characteristics or other functional domains in autistic individuals. A total of 30 eligible analyses were included. The included analyses investigated core autism characteristics (10), adaptive behavior (10), behavioral problems (7), adverse childhood experiences (1), cognitive development (1), and feeding problems (1). For each domain, we found differing numbers and shapes of trajectories. Cognitive development was predictive of core autism symptom trajectory classifications, where cognitive development was generally lower in more severely affected core autism symptom trajectories. We found mixed results for other predictors. Future studies should focus on understudied outcome domains, such as motor coordination or sleep problems. In addition, more research is needed to understand when and why individuals deviate from their subgroup trajectory.Lay abstractAutistic people can have very different characteristics. Investigating groups based on their characteristics over time can improve our understanding of how autistic people develop and why development can differ between people. We reviewed studies that group autistic individuals based on their development of autistic features and other characteristics. We included 30 analyses and summarized their findings. The studies show that there are different ways autistic individuals develop based on core autistic characteristics (social difficulties and focused, intense and repetitive behaviors, interests and activities), as well as for adaptive behavior, behavioral problems, cognitive development, and feeding problems. For core characteristics, lower cognitive abilities seemed to be related to less favorable developmental pathways. This review showed that autistic people may show distinct patterns of development in core characteristics and other domains. We also highlight that some domains of functioning, such as motor coordination and sleeping problems, are not studied in the literature and future studies should focus on these domains as well since these are difficulties that autistic people often face. Identifying distinct developmental patterns in autistic children can help to predict the outcome of autistic people and may aid in offering personalized support.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251370818"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145136222","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":"Understanding eye care access for autistic adults and families: A convergent mixed-methods study.","authors":"Chris Edwards, Abigail Ma Love, Ru Ying Cai, Paul Constable, Daniel C Love, Ketan Parmar, Emma Gowen, Vicki Gibbs","doi":"10.1177/13623613251371509","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251371509","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Autistic people face persistent barriers to accessing healthcare, yet little is known about their experiences receiving eye care, despite elevated rates of vision conditions. This convergent mixed-methods study explored the eye care experiences of 127 autistic adults and 69 parents of autistic children living in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Through an online survey incorporating both structured and open-ended items, we examined access patterns, perceived barriers and enablers, and unmet needs. Quantitative data revealed widespread challenges, including sensory discomfort, communication difficulties, and financial costs, while qualitative responses foregrounded how provider interaction, clinical pacing, and environmental conditions shaped overall experience. Although participants valued clearer communication and sensory-informed adjustments, these were described as insufficient in the face of structural barriers such as affordability and inaccessible service locations. These findings align with emerging models of autism-informed healthcare that advocate for systemic, rather than ad hoc, approaches to accessibility. Our results underscore the need for proactive, cross-sector solutions developed in partnership with autistic people, which embed neurodiversity-affirming principles into eye care design, delivery, and policy. Addressing these inequities is both an ethical and practical imperative if we are to ensure that eye care services are inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to diverse ways of being.Lay abstractAutistic people often face barriers when using healthcare services, but little is known about their experiences with eye care. This is important because autistic people are more likely to have vision problems like needing glasses, having a lazy eye, or having trouble with how their eyes work together. In this study, we asked 127 autistic adults and 69 parents of autistic children in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand about their experiences receiving eye care. People completed an online survey that included multiple-choice questions and space to describe their experiences in their own words. Many participants said that eye care could be stressful or confusing. Common challenges included unclear instructions, bright lights, noisy environments, feeling rushed, and staff not understanding autism. Some people avoided going to eye care professionals altogether because they could not afford glasses or found the environment too overwhelming. Participants said that small changes like using plain language, giving more time, and creating a calm environment helped make care more accessible. However, these small changes were not always enough, especially when services were too expensive or hard to get to. To improve access to eye care, changes need to happen at all levels, including how clinics are designed and how staff are trained. These changes should be made together with autistic people to make sure that services meet their needs and ","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251371509"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145091128","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":"Application of psychological behavioural therapies in improving oral health for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Phoebe Py Lam, Elise Hoi Wan Fok, Megan Yuen Tung Chan, Colman Patrick McGrath, Cynthia Kar Yung Yiu","doi":"10.1177/13623613251372276","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251372276","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This systematic review aimed to summarize the current evidence on the effectiveness of various psychological behavioural therapies in improving oral hygiene maintenance habits and oral health among children with autism. Independent screening and study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and evaluation of the certainty of evidence were conducted. A total of 16 studies were deemed eligible for qualitative synthesis, with 9 included in quantitative analyses. Psychological behavioural therapies including visual pedagogies, social stories, components of PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and Applied Behavioural Analysis, as well as the use of smart device applications all demonstrated improvement in oral health parameters following implementation. However, most studies lacked control groups and exhibited a high risk of bias due to the lack of reporting or failure to account for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) severity and associated comorbidities. In addition, studies typically relied on caregivers to carry out reinforcement of therapies, which may explain the significant heterogeneity observed. In summary, the evidence supporting the use of psychoeducational techniques to improve the oral health parameters of autistic children is limited and of very low certainty. Further research utilizing larger-scale studies and more rigorous study designs is necessary to enhance the certainty of evidence in this field.Lay abstractThis review looked at existing studies to see how effective different psychological and behavioural therapies are in helping children with autism take better care of their teeth and maintain good oral health. The researchers carefully selected and analysed 16 studies, with 9 of those used for detailed analysis. The therapies examined included visual tools, social stories, parts of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), and smartphone apps. Overall, these approaches showed some improvements in oral health. However, many of the studies had weaknesses, such as not having control groups or not fully considering the severity of the autistic conditions or if other medical conditions are present. In short, the current evidence that these therapies help improve oral health in children with autism is limited and not very strong. More high-quality research with larger groups of children is needed to better understand what works best.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251372276"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074191","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":"Impact of peer-support programs for individuals with autism: A systematic review.","authors":"Monica Hm Verkooijen, Marjolijn Ketelaar, Max van Woerden, Wouter G Staal, Indira Tendolkar, Janneke R Zinkstok","doi":"10.1177/13623613251374971","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251374971","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The neurodiversity approach recognizes autism as a natural variation of human experience, emphasizing unique strengths while acknowledging social and behavioral challenges that may affect quality of life. Peer support, based on shared experiences and mutual understanding, has shown benefits in mental health care, yet its impact for autistic individuals remains underexplored. This review is of peer-support programs for individuals with autism, focusing on impact, facilitators, and barriers. A systematic literature review was conducted using Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Sociological Abstracts. Studies involving peer-support programs for autistic individuals aged 12 and older were selected. Fifteen articles described 12 unique peer-support programs with varying goals, such as enhancing personal development. Studies reported diverse improvements, including enhanced well-being, self-esteem, and academic performance. Many participants valued connecting with peers in an autism-focused context. Most articles discussed some facilitators and barriers. Peer support shows promising benefits for autistic individuals, fostering empowerment and well-being. However, the methodological limitations of the included studies, such as small sample sizes and lack of control groups, limit the strength of these conclusions. Future research should therefore use more robust research methods and investigate accessibility and potential risks to optimize peer support for this population.Lay Abstract&lt;b&gt;Connecting through peer support: Understanding the impact of peer-support programs on individuals with autism and exploring barriers and facilitators.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;Aim and Purpose of the Research:&lt;/b&gt; This study aims to explore the impact of peer-support programs for autistic individuals. Peer support is defined as a supportive relationship between people with shared lived experiences. This review examines the impact of these programs on autistic individuals and identifies key challenges and facilitators that may influence outcomes.&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt; Autism, characterized by differences in social interaction and behavior, can affect many aspects of daily life, including social and academic functioning, which can lead to a reduced quality of life. While peer support has proven beneficial in general healthcare, its potential for autistic individuals remains underexplored. Peer-support programs may offer mutual understanding and emotional support, making them a promising approach to improving well-being for people with autism.&lt;b&gt;Methods:&lt;/b&gt; A systematic review was conducted using multiple databases to identify research articles published up to January 17, 2024. Studies included focused on peer-support programs for autistic individuals aged 12 and older, employing methods such as interviews or questionnaires to assess their impact.&lt;b&gt;Results and Importance:&lt;/b&gt; The findings indicate that peer-support programs generally have a positive impact, inclu","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251374971"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074209","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":"'I did not think they could help me': Autistic adults' reasons for not seeking public healthcare when they last experienced suicidality.","authors":"Tanya L Procyshyn, Rachel L Moseley, Sarah J Marsden, Carrie Allison, Tracey Parsons, Sarah Cassidy, Mirabel Pelton, Elizabeth Weir, Tanatswa Chikaura, Holly Hodges, David Mosse, Ian Hall, Lewis Owens, Jon Cheyette, David Crichton, Jacqui Rodgers, Simon Baron-Cohen","doi":"10.1177/13623613251370789","DOIUrl":"10.1177/13623613251370789","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With autistic people at increased risk of dying by suicide, understanding barriers to help-seeking is crucial for suicide prevention efforts. Using an online survey designed in consultation with autistic people, we examined reasons why autistic adults living in the United Kingdom did not seek help from the National Health Service (NHS) when they last experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviours. Participants who disaffirmed help-seeking from the NHS (n = 754) were able to select from a prepopulated list of 20 reasons why and to enter their own. The three most commonly endorsed reasons were 'I tried to cope and manage my feelings by myself', 'I did not think they could help me' and 'The waiting list is too long - no point'. Endorsement of reasons differed significantly with gender identity, age group and degree of lifetime suicidality. Four themes emerged from analysis of free-form responses: &lt;i&gt;NHS is ineffective&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;NHS as antagonistic, Fear and consequences&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Barriers to access&lt;/i&gt;. These findings highlight the need to foster more flexible healthcare systems capable of supporting autistic people, and that autistic people view as trustworthy and effective, to enable help-seeking behaviours with the potential to save lives.Lay abstractAutistic people are more likely than non-autistic people to think about, attempt and die by suicide. For people in crisis, public healthcare services are, in theory, a source of help. In reality, many non-autistic people do not seek help from healthcare services. We wanted to understand why autistic people living in the United Kingdom may not seek help from the National Health Service (NHS) when suicidal and if these reasons differed by characteristics like age and gender. This study tried to answer these questions using responses from a survey co-designed with autistic people about various aspects of suicidal experiences. Participants were able to select from a list of 20 reasons and enter their own explanations (free-form responses) why they did not seek NHS support when suicidal. Our findings show that the most common reasons were that people tried to cope and manage by themselves; they did not think the NHS could help; and they thought the waiting list was too long. Reasons for not seeking help differed by age and gender, as well as lifetime history of suicidal thoughts and behaviour. For example, cisgender women and transgender/gender-divergent participants were more likely to say that previous bad experiences with the NHS prevented them from seeking help, and people with experience of suicide attempts were more likely to have been turned away by the NHS in the past. The free-form responses showed that many participants believed the NHS was ineffective, had previously had negative experiences with the NHS, worried about the consequences of help-seeking and experienced barriers that prevented help-seeking. This work highlights the crucial change and work required to make the NHS safe and access","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251370789"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063380","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":"'It feels like a blessing' - The experience of Hebrew-English bilingualism among autistic children: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.","authors":"David Ariel Sher, Nicole Wendy Sher, Jenny L Gibson, Hannah Ella Sher","doi":"10.1177/13623613251367244","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251367244","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Over half the world's population are bilingual. Despite this, practitioners often advise parents of autistic children to teach their child one dominant national language and limit their child's exposure to community languages. Limited research with autistic children's carers has shown that this monolingual approach impoverishes children's experiences in communal, familial, religious, and social contexts. There is very little research on this topic from the first-person perspectives of autistic children themselves. There is no research exploring the perspectives of Hebrew-English bilingual autistic children. This study aimed to explore the perspectives and experiences of autistic children on Hebrew-English bilingualism. In accord with the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) methodological framework, semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the experiences of 13 Hebrew-English bilingual autistic children. The IPA clustering process resulted in two overarching group experiential themes (GETs). The first GET was 'Bilingualism aids religious, educational, and social integration and connection'. The second GET was 'Preference of bilingualism and dislike of monolingual approach'. Recommendations include training for practitioners regarding potential positive outcomes of bilingualism, alongside the way their advice to adopt a monolingual approach impacts upon autistic children. We also argue the importance of autistic children's views being considered whenever bilingual decision-making is made.Lay abstractOver half the world's population speak two or more languages. Despite this, practitioners often advise parents of autistic children to teach their child one main national language and not expose their child to additional community languages. Limited research with autistic children's carers has shown that this approach negatively impacts autistic children's communal, family, religious, and social experiences. There is very little research on this topic from the first-hand perspectives of autistic children themselves. There is no research exploring the perspectives of autistic children who speak both Hebrew and English. This study aimed to explore the views of autistic children who have ability in the Hebrew and English languages. Using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) research approach, we conducted interviews to explore the experiences of 13 autistic children who have ability in both the Hebrew and English languages. The research resulted in two overarching themes. The first theme was 'Bilingualism aids religious, educational, and social integration and connection'. The second theme was 'Preference of bilingualism, and dislike of monolingual approach'. Our recommendations include training practitioners to be more aware of the way the advice they give for autistic children to only learn one language can negatively impact autistic children. We also argue that whenever decision-making about an autistic child l","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251367244"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145068904","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":"Occurrence and overlap of physical and mental health conditions in autistic adults.","authors":"Carolien Torenvliet, Tulsi A Radhoe, Hilde M Geurts","doi":"10.1177/13623613251362346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251362346","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mental and physical health conditions are a major topic of concern in autistic adults, but studies rarely consider their overlap. Therefore, this study assessed physical health conditions and mental health conditions in autistic adults in the Netherlands and potential associations between them. Using questionnaires, we compared autistic (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 327) and non-autistic (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 274) adults (30-90 years) on mental health conditions, physical health conditions, and health-related quality of life. Autistic adults reported lower health-related quality of life than non-autistic adults. Logistic regressions indicated significantly higher rates of all mental health conditions reported by autistic adults, most common being mood (45%), anxiety (22%), and personality disorders (21%), with odds ratios ranging from six to 34. Regarding physical health conditions, autistic adults reported significantly higher rates of bowel conditions (27%), allergies (48%), and hypothyroid conditions (6%), with odds ratios ranging from two to four. Psychometric network analysis of autism and the most frequently occurring mental health conditions and physical health conditions highlighted autism as a central node, followed by mood and personality disorders, bowel and respiratory conditions, and allergies. Mental health conditions were tightly clustered, indicating high comorbidity. While no single condition connected physical and mental health in particular, we found several links between the two. These findings emphasize the need for improved healthcare and broader societal changes to enhance the well-being of autistic individuals.Lay AbstractAutistic adults often face a range of physical and mental health conditions, but the relationship between these two types of health issues is not well understood. Our study looked at how often physical and mental health conditions in autistic adults occurred. We also studied the connections between these conditions, using a method called psychometric network analysis. We surveyed 327 autistic and 274 non-autistic adults, aged 30-90 years, about potential health conditions they faced and the perception of the quality of their health, also known as health-related quality of life. We found that autistic adults had a lower health-related quality of life and reported higher rates of all mental health conditions. Mood (45%), anxiety (22%), and personality disorders (21%) were most common. Autistic adults were between six and 34 times more likely to have these mental health conditions compared to non-autistic adults. In terms of physical health, autistic adults reported higher rates of bowel conditions (27%), allergies (48%), hypothyroid conditions (6%), and less robustly of strokes (CVA/TIAs; 3%), and rheumatic conditions (31%)- and a two- to four-times higher risk than non-autistic adults. Using psychometric network analysis, we found that mental health conditions in autistic adults are closely linked, showing how complex their hea","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613251362346"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145038924","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}