@autisminadulthood
Autism in Adulthood is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes research and scholarship on the most pressing issues affecting autistic adults. www.liebertpub.com/aut. EIC: @cnicolaidis.bsky.social Social Media Editors: @avanicole23.bsky.social
Meta-Synthesis of Autistic Adults’ First-Person Perspectives About Mental Health-Related Services by Andoni et. al. offer practical changes that clinicians can make to improve their services to create better experiences for autistic adults.
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Happy to share our paper on Autism and sexual assistance, just published in @autisminadulthood.bsky.social
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“The World’s Really Not Set Up for the Neurodivergent Person”: Understanding Emotion Dysregulation from the Perspective of Autistic Adults by Beck et. al. identifies key contributors to emotion dysregulation to inform future service development.
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What Are the Lived Experiences of Strengths in Autistic Individuals? A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis by Chow and Cooper finds that autistic individuals value abilities and attributes that enable them to thrive in their daily lives.
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Community Priorities for Preventing Suicide in Autistic People: An Approach to Guide Policy and Practice by Moseley et. al. explores the ideas of autistic people and their supporters on necessary pathways to suicide prevention.
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Abstract for the paper: “I’m Kind of Stuck in the Middle. I Don’t Know Where to Go”: Race, Autism, and Intersectional Stigma Among Black and White Autistic Adults. It reads: Autistic adults frequently experience social stigma, which may be compounded by additional marginalized identities such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. Black autistic adults, may face unique challenges at the intersection of racial bias and autism stigma. This study qualitative methods to explore how intersecting identities shape autistic adults' experiences of stigma and marginalization, with an emphasis on Black autistic adults. 32 autistic adults (16 Black and 16 White) completed a semi-structured interview regarding their social experiences. Participants shared recent stories of peer exclusion, acceptance, discrimination, and support that they had experienced, as well as their feelings surrounding these events. Themes explored the unique impact of stigma on those with intersecting identities. Specifically, these themes included: 1) identity-based discrimination shaped by race, gender, and LGBTQ+ status; 2) challenges in obtaining and processing an autism diagnosis; and 3) difficulties navigating personal identity, particularly among Black autistic participants. Black participants often described layered forms of exclusion related to both their race and autistic traits. Across racial groups, women and LGBTQ+ participants also reported distinct forms of marginalization and erasure. These findings highlight how autism stigma intersects with other marginalized identities to shape social experiences. Black autistic adults, along with autistic women and LGBTQ+ autistic people, may encounter compounded barriers to acccptance, identity development, and belonging. These results underscore the need for more inclusive research and supports that attend to the diversity of autistic experiences.
“I’m Kind of Stuck in the Middle. I Don’t Know Where to Go”: Race, Autism, & Intersectional Stigma Among Black & White Autistic Adults by Jones & team explored how intersecting identities shapes autistic adults' experience of stigma & marginalization.
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Abstract for the paper: "Identifying as Autistic Without a Formal Diagnosis: Who Self-Identifies as Autistic and Why? It reads: Adults increasingly self-identify as autistic without a formal diagnosis, yet little research has systematically investigated (a) the unique characteristics, experiences, and needs of self-identifying adults and (b) their preferences regarding diagnosis. Understanding the unique needs and preferences of self-identifying adults is necessary to better support them. We conducted a cross-sectional, mixed-methods study of US autistic adults who either self-identified as autistic or had a formal autism diagnosis, recruited via the survey platofrm Prolific. Participants were compared on (a) demographic characteristics, (b) autistic traits and experiences, (c) psychosocial outcomes, (d) support needs, and (e) beliefs about autism. Moreover, self-identifying participants reported whether they wanted a diagnosis, why or why not, and what barriers they faced. Self-identifying autistic adults were similar to diagnosed adults in autistic traits, including diagnostic traits. However, self-identifying autistic adults different from diagnosed adults in significant ways. Self-identifying adults were more likely to be cisgender female, experienced worse mental well-being, were more likely to experience unmet support needs, and faced unique barriers to receiving support (most frequently a lack of resources). The majority (68.7%) of self-identifying adults wanted a formal diagnosis but faced barriers in doing so. Self-identifying adults named a number of reasons for wanting a diagnosis (e.g., validation, access to certain services), but also grounds for hesitation (e.g., fear of stigma and discrimination). Adults who self-identify as autistic are similar to diagnosed adults in their autistic traits but face more barriers to accessing services and may be uniquely vulnerable to experiencing adverse psychosocial outcomes.
Identifying as Autistic Without a Formal Diagnosis: Who Self-Identifies as Autistic and Why? by Ahuvia et al. 2026 finds that self-identifying autistic adults are similar to dxed autistic adults but face barriers to accessing services.
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Abstract to the paper, "Psychometric Investigation of Preliminary Item-Set for the Self Assessment of Autistic Traits (SAAT)". It reads: This study presents the preliminary psychometrics of the SAAT item pull, which is the first comprehensive self-report tool of autism traits for teens and adults coproduced by autistic people. 500 Autistic and 80 non-autistic people, age 16 or olderm completed the SAAT. The sample included community-ascertained autistic adult participants, as well as participants from a large academic medical center-based research network, which broadened the spectrum of participants studied to include more gender-diverse, older, and nonspeaking individuals. Exploratory factor analysis followed by a unidimensional confirmatory factor analysis revealed four factors as follows: Modulation/Social Communication, Strengths/Passions, Brain–Body Disconnect, and Negative Community Context. Three of these factors are sensitive to autism in comparison with non-autistic people across age, gender identity, assigned gender at birth, and gender diversity status. The SAAT shows promise as a multidimensional self-report tool that is reliable and valid with respect to the samples that we examined. The SAAT item-set may yield a useful screening tool for people of different gender identities, assigned gender at birth, and gender diversity status, from 16 years old through adulthood, who are questioning whether they may be autistic. In addition, it has potential as a phenotyping tool that captures individual strengths as well as challenges and could provide information that helps guide the creation of opportunities and supports that enable autistic people to thrive. Given the preliminary nature of the current study, a cross-validation study with respect to larger and diverse groups of the sample is the necessary next step to further develop and refine the set of items as a useful tool.
Psychometric Investigation of Preliminary Item-Set for the Self-Assessment of Autistic Traits (SAAT) by Kentworthy et al. finds that the SAAT is a reliable and valid self-report screening tool for autistic traits.
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A snowy scene from Cambridge, UK. The sky is cloudy, the trees have lost their leaves for the winter and snow covers the ground.
Thank you so much for following us, downloading, sharing and reading the wonderful research in our journal in 2025.
We wish you a restful winter break and will return on January 5th 2026.
DON'T MISS: By tracking how camouflaging behaviours change over time in a group of autistic adults, Zhuang et al (2025) found that earlier psychological and social pressures, such as fear of negative judgment, predict later camouflaging.
FREE until 24th December
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
DON’T MISS: Baczewski et al (2025) interviewed 20 autistic LGBTQIA+ young adults to explore the challenges they face when seeking mental health care and what providers can do to better support them.
FREE until 24th December
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
DON’T MISS: Mazefsky et al (2025) shows how autism researchers can design studies that will identify new areas for suicide prevention and intervention by adopting a multi-method, dimensional approach to mental health.
FREE until 24th December
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Huckridge et al (2025) conducted interviews and focus groups with 15 carers of autistic adults, healthcare professionals and volunteers to explore how suicidal thoughts and behaviours are identified and discussed with autistic adults.
FREE until 24th December
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Interesting study looking into how stable or changing camouflaging behaviours are over a 2 year period. It would be interesting to extend this for a longer period of time!
@ilianamagiati.bsky.social
Sici Zhuang’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sici-zhua...
Iliana Magiati’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/iliana-ma...
By tracking how camouflaging behaviours change over time in a group of autistic adults, Zhuang et al (2025) found that earlier psychological and social pressures, such as fear of negative judgment, predict later camouflaging.
FREE until 24th December
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Lauren Baczewski's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-ba...
Baczewski et al (2025) interviewed 20 autistic LGBTQIA+ young adults to explore the challenges they face when seeking mental health care and what providers can do to better support them.
FREE until 24th December
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Mazefsky et al (2025) shows how autism researchers can design studies that will identify new areas for suicide prevention and intervention by adopting a multi-method, dimensional approach to mental health.
@pittreaact.bsky.social
FREE until 24th December
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
DON'T MISS this qualitative analysis which found that autistic adults face a conflict between balancing their desire for social connection with their limited energy for engaging in social experiences.
FREE until 25th November
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
DON'T MISS this article by @tmburns08.bsky.social @drmbothapsych.bsky.social @durhampsych.bsky.social who found that autistic people had more distress and conflict around their identity and poorer mental health than non-autistic people.
FREE until November 25th
In this essay, Keita Edwards-Adams offers personal insight into the experience of menopause through an autistic lens:
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
FREE until 25th November
Our paper has recently been published in @Autism in Adulthood:
“Trapped in a No-Win Situation”: A Qualitative Exploration of Autistic Adults’ Experiences of Loneliness
tinyurl.com/2yeuch6j @craeioe.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk @lauramaycrane.bsky.social @annaremington.bsky.social
New CRAE Research Summary
Grace et al. (2025). ‘Trapped in a no-win situation’: A qualitative exploration of autistic adults’ experiences of loneliness.
Loneliness is more than lack of connection.
@kanabaletti.bsky.social
@annaremington.bsky.social @lauramaycrane.bsky.social @craeioe.bsky.social
New research into how autistic masking can be detrimental to mental health and lead to more identity confusion.
A qualitative analysis by @kanabaletti.bsky.social et al found that autistic adults face a conflict between balancing their desire for social connection with their limited energy for engaging in social experiences.
FREE until 25th November
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
In an online survey by @tmburns08.bsky.social @drmbothapsych.bsky.social @durhampsych.bsky.social, autistic people had more distress and conflict around their identity and poorer mental health than non-autistic people.
FREE until November 25th
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
This reflexive thematic analysis explores autistic adults' experiences of attending live music 🎶
"Are Universities Ready to Support Autistic Students? A Call to Increase Coordinated Campus Efforts" by Blaskowitz et al advocates for university departments to enhance #inclusion and support for #autistic students.
READ shorturl.at/EgzlU