Dépouillements

Development is key to understanding autism: How longitudinal approaches shape our understanding of autism / Kathryn A. MCNAUGHTON in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.555-560 Titre : Development is key to understanding autism: How longitudinal approaches shape our understanding of autism Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Kathryn A. MCNAUGHTON, Auteur ; Alison S. RUSSELL, Auteur ; Margaret LYONS, Auteur ; Julia PARISH-MORRIS, Auteur ; Clare HARROP, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.555-560 Langues : Anglais (eng) Index. décimale : PER Périodiques En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613261425302 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Development is key to understanding autism: How longitudinal approaches shape our understanding of autism [texte imprimé] / Kathryn A. MCNAUGHTON, Auteur ; Alison S. RUSSELL, Auteur ; Margaret LYONS, Auteur ; Julia PARISH-MORRIS, Auteur ; Clare HARROP, Auteur . - p.555-560. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.555-560 Index. décimale : PER Périodiques En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613261425302 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

The effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and experiences of interventions to reduce suicidality for autistic people: A scoping review / Noreen ORR in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.561-573 Titre : The effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and experiences of interventions to reduce suicidality for autistic people: A scoping review Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Noreen ORR, Auteur ; Liz SHAW, Auteur ; Simon BRISCOE, Auteur ; Hassanat M. LAWAL, Auteur ; Clara MARTIN-PINTADO, Auteur ; Malcolm TURNER, Auteur ; Jo THOMPSON COON, Auteur ; Ruth GARSIDE, Auteur ; G.J. MELENDEZ-TORRES, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.561-573 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism  interventions  scoping review  screening  suicidality Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : 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 abstract Autistic, 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. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251376208 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] The effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and experiences of interventions to reduce suicidality for autistic people: A scoping review [texte imprimé] / Noreen ORR, Auteur ; Liz SHAW, Auteur ; Simon BRISCOE, Auteur ; Hassanat M. LAWAL, Auteur ; Clara MARTIN-PINTADO, Auteur ; Malcolm TURNER, Auteur ; Jo THOMPSON COON, Auteur ; Ruth GARSIDE, Auteur ; G.J. MELENDEZ-TORRES, Auteur . - p.561-573. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.561-573 Mots-clés : autism  interventions  scoping review  screening  suicidality Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : 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 abstract Autistic, 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. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251376208 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

The relationship between newspaper reading preferences and attitudes towards autism / Marta DICKINSON in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.574-591 Titre : The relationship between newspaper reading preferences and attitudes towards autism Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Marta DICKINSON, Auteur ; Themis KARAMINIS, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.574-591 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : attitudes  autism  explicit  implicit  media influence  newspapers  stigma Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Newspapers – particularly certain tabloid and right-leaning publications – often perpetuate negative stereotypes of Autistic people. This study examined how newspaper reading preferences relate to public attitudes towards autism. A sample of 277 UK-based non-autistic adults completed an online survey reporting demographic information, newspaper reading habits (print or online) and trustworthiness ratings for 10 major British newspapers. Participants also completed measures of autism-related knowledge and explicit attitudes towards autism, and an implicit bias task. Data were analysed using generalized additive models weighted by newspaper exposure, along with hierarchical partitioning to estimate the variance explained by reading preferences and other factors. Newspaper-related factors accounted for 4.5% of the variance in explicit attitudes and 10.7% in implicit attitudes. Crucially, selective engagement with right-leaning tabloids was associated with more negative implicit attitudes. Furthermore, selective trust in these outlets predicted relatively favourable explicit but relatively negative implicit attitudes. Overall trust in newspapers was also linked to less accurate autism knowledge. These findings suggest that engagement with media sources portraying autism more negatively is linked to more negative implicit biases towards Autistic people, even when explicit attitudes remain relatively favourable. Future research should explore causal mechanisms and the broader influence of media ecosystems on public perceptions of autism.Lay abstract When newspapers discuss Autistic people, they often focus on their challenges rather than their strengths. This kind of reporting – especially in some tabloids and right-leaning newspapers – can reinforce negative stereotypes, making it harder to build a more inclusive society for Autistic people. However, we do not yet fully understand how newspaper coverage relates to neurotypical people’s attitudes towards autism, particularly when considering their background, knowledge of autism and personal experiences with Autistic people. This study investigated whether there is a connection between the newspapers people read and trust, and their feelings about autism. We examined both openly expressed opinions (explicit attitudes) and more instinctive, less conscious reactions (implicit attitudes). We surveyed 277 non-autistic adults in the United Kingdom. Participants reported how often they read 10 major British newspapers (in print or online) and how much they trusted them. They also answered questions about their knowledge of autism and their attitudes towards Autistic people. In addition, participants completed a short word-based task designed to reveal more subtle, instinctive responses. The results showed that individuals who regularly read right-leaning tabloids – which more frequently feature negative coverage of autism – tended to display more negative automatic responses towards autism. Interestingly, some participants who highly trusted these outlets expressed relatively positive explicit views, while their task responses suggested they might still hold relatively negative unconscious biases. Finally, greater overall trust in newspapers was linked to lower levels of autism knowledge. Taken together, these findings highlight a potential relationship between the media we consume and trust and not only what we know, believe and openly say about autism, but also our deeper, less conscious attitudes and reactions. While this study does not prove that news media directly shape or cause changes in attitudes, it underscores the importance of respectful, balanced reporting in fostering greater understanding and acceptance of Autistic people. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251394523 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] The relationship between newspaper reading preferences and attitudes towards autism [texte imprimé] / Marta DICKINSON, Auteur ; Themis KARAMINIS, Auteur . - p.574-591. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.574-591 Mots-clés : attitudes  autism  explicit  implicit  media influence  newspapers  stigma Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Newspapers – particularly certain tabloid and right-leaning publications – often perpetuate negative stereotypes of Autistic people. This study examined how newspaper reading preferences relate to public attitudes towards autism. A sample of 277 UK-based non-autistic adults completed an online survey reporting demographic information, newspaper reading habits (print or online) and trustworthiness ratings for 10 major British newspapers. Participants also completed measures of autism-related knowledge and explicit attitudes towards autism, and an implicit bias task. Data were analysed using generalized additive models weighted by newspaper exposure, along with hierarchical partitioning to estimate the variance explained by reading preferences and other factors. Newspaper-related factors accounted for 4.5% of the variance in explicit attitudes and 10.7% in implicit attitudes. Crucially, selective engagement with right-leaning tabloids was associated with more negative implicit attitudes. Furthermore, selective trust in these outlets predicted relatively favourable explicit but relatively negative implicit attitudes. Overall trust in newspapers was also linked to less accurate autism knowledge. These findings suggest that engagement with media sources portraying autism more negatively is linked to more negative implicit biases towards Autistic people, even when explicit attitudes remain relatively favourable. Future research should explore causal mechanisms and the broader influence of media ecosystems on public perceptions of autism.Lay abstract When newspapers discuss Autistic people, they often focus on their challenges rather than their strengths. This kind of reporting – especially in some tabloids and right-leaning newspapers – can reinforce negative stereotypes, making it harder to build a more inclusive society for Autistic people. However, we do not yet fully understand how newspaper coverage relates to neurotypical people’s attitudes towards autism, particularly when considering their background, knowledge of autism and personal experiences with Autistic people. This study investigated whether there is a connection between the newspapers people read and trust, and their feelings about autism. We examined both openly expressed opinions (explicit attitudes) and more instinctive, less conscious reactions (implicit attitudes). We surveyed 277 non-autistic adults in the United Kingdom. Participants reported how often they read 10 major British newspapers (in print or online) and how much they trusted them. They also answered questions about their knowledge of autism and their attitudes towards Autistic people. In addition, participants completed a short word-based task designed to reveal more subtle, instinctive responses. The results showed that individuals who regularly read right-leaning tabloids – which more frequently feature negative coverage of autism – tended to display more negative automatic responses towards autism. Interestingly, some participants who highly trusted these outlets expressed relatively positive explicit views, while their task responses suggested they might still hold relatively negative unconscious biases. Finally, greater overall trust in newspapers was linked to lower levels of autism knowledge. Taken together, these findings highlight a potential relationship between the media we consume and trust and not only what we know, believe and openly say about autism, but also our deeper, less conscious attitudes and reactions. While this study does not prove that news media directly shape or cause changes in attitudes, it underscores the importance of respectful, balanced reporting in fostering greater understanding and acceptance of Autistic people. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251394523 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Emotion regulation in families of autistic children and adolescents: A longitudinal study / Yuting TAN in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.592-604 Titre : Emotion regulation in families of autistic children and adolescents: A longitudinal study Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Yuting TAN, Auteur ; Kevin Ka Shing CHAN, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.592-604 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism  emotion regulation  emotional expressiveness  externalizing symptoms  internalizing symptoms Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : This study investigated whether parental emotion-regulation difficulties are prospectively associated with increased emotion-regulation challenges in autistic children and adolescents and explored the underlying mechanisms and behavioral implications of these potential intergenerational associations. Over three time points (T1, T2, T3) spanning 2 years, 363 parents of autistic children and adolescents from Hong Kong provided questionnaire data. Path analyses revealed that parental emotion-regulation difficulties at T1 were associated with greater negative emotional expressiveness at T2, which in turn was linked to increased emotion-regulation difficulties and more internalizing and externalizing problems in autistic children and adolescents at T3. Importantly, these findings indicate that when parents have difficulty regulating their emotions and express negativity, their autistic children and adolescents are more likely to face emotion-regulation challenges and exhibit behavior problems. This underscores the need to support parents in regulating their emotions and optimizing their emotional expressiveness. Clinicians and policymakers should help parents strengthen their emotion regulation and enhance their emotional well-being by building coping strategies and fostering supportive environments. By promoting parents’ emotional wellness, we may also improve psychological adjustment and behavioral outcomes for their autistic children and adolescents.Lay abstract Parents of autistic children and adolescents often experience high levels of parenting stress and face challenges in managing their own negative emotions. These emotional struggles can impact their autistic children and adolescents during everyday interactions, potentially intensifying the emotional and behavioral difficulties they experience. This study examined whether parents’ emotion-regulation patterns are longitudinally linked to the development of emotion regulation in their autistic children and adolescents. The findings revealed that when parents had difficulty regulating their emotions and frequently expressed negative emotions, their autistic children and adolescents were more likely to face emotion-regulation challenges and experience personal distress and interpersonal difficulties. This underscores the importance of supporting parents in regulating their emotions and optimizing their emotional expressiveness. Clinicians and policymakers should assist parents in strengthening their emotion regulation and enhancing their emotional well-being by building coping strategies and fostering supportive environments. By promoting parents’ emotional wellness, we may also improve psychological adjustment and behavioral functioning for their autistic children and adolescents. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251401049 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Emotion regulation in families of autistic children and adolescents: A longitudinal study [texte imprimé] / Yuting TAN, Auteur ; Kevin Ka Shing CHAN, Auteur . - p.592-604. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.592-604 Mots-clés : autism  emotion regulation  emotional expressiveness  externalizing symptoms  internalizing symptoms Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : This study investigated whether parental emotion-regulation difficulties are prospectively associated with increased emotion-regulation challenges in autistic children and adolescents and explored the underlying mechanisms and behavioral implications of these potential intergenerational associations. Over three time points (T1, T2, T3) spanning 2 years, 363 parents of autistic children and adolescents from Hong Kong provided questionnaire data. Path analyses revealed that parental emotion-regulation difficulties at T1 were associated with greater negative emotional expressiveness at T2, which in turn was linked to increased emotion-regulation difficulties and more internalizing and externalizing problems in autistic children and adolescents at T3. Importantly, these findings indicate that when parents have difficulty regulating their emotions and express negativity, their autistic children and adolescents are more likely to face emotion-regulation challenges and exhibit behavior problems. This underscores the need to support parents in regulating their emotions and optimizing their emotional expressiveness. Clinicians and policymakers should help parents strengthen their emotion regulation and enhance their emotional well-being by building coping strategies and fostering supportive environments. By promoting parents’ emotional wellness, we may also improve psychological adjustment and behavioral outcomes for their autistic children and adolescents.Lay abstract Parents of autistic children and adolescents often experience high levels of parenting stress and face challenges in managing their own negative emotions. These emotional struggles can impact their autistic children and adolescents during everyday interactions, potentially intensifying the emotional and behavioral difficulties they experience. This study examined whether parents’ emotion-regulation patterns are longitudinally linked to the development of emotion regulation in their autistic children and adolescents. The findings revealed that when parents had difficulty regulating their emotions and frequently expressed negative emotions, their autistic children and adolescents were more likely to face emotion-regulation challenges and experience personal distress and interpersonal difficulties. This underscores the importance of supporting parents in regulating their emotions and optimizing their emotional expressiveness. Clinicians and policymakers should assist parents in strengthening their emotion regulation and enhancing their emotional well-being by building coping strategies and fostering supportive environments. By promoting parents’ emotional wellness, we may also improve psychological adjustment and behavioral functioning for their autistic children and adolescents. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251401049 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Post-traumatic stress disorder in autistic and non-autistic adults: The impact of appraisals on reactions to traumatic events / Rachel PROSSER in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.605-625 Titre : Post-traumatic stress disorder in autistic and non-autistic adults: The impact of appraisals on reactions to traumatic events Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Rachel PROSSER, Auteur ; Freya RUMBALL, Auteur ; Dorothy KING, Auteur ; Craig STEEL, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.605-625 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : appraisals  ASD  autism  mental health  post-traumatic stress disorder Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Research suggests autistic people experience greater post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity than non-autistic people following traumatic events. Post-trauma appraisals are fundamental in cognitive models of post-traumatic stress disorder, but have not been explored in autistic people. We aimed to explore whether we could replicate effects of heightened trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity in autistic adults, and examine how post-traumatic appraisals affect the association between autism and post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity. Two hundred forty-two autistic (n = 148) and non-autistic adults (n = 94) completed a survey measuring trauma exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity and post-trauma appraisals. Exposure to types of traumatic events did not differ significantly between the groups, but the autistic group endorsed more events that ‘happened to me’ directly. Post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity and endorsement of negative post-traumatic appraisals were significantly higher in the autistic group, specifically alienation, shame and fear appraisals. These appraisals mediated the association between autism and post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity. Therefore, as in the general population, greater endorsement of negative post-traumatic appraisals may be a risk factor for post-traumatic stress disorder symptom development in autistic adults, particularly appraisals of shame, fear and alienation. Longitudinal designs are required to confirm the direction of these effects and to elucidate factors underlying these negative appraisals in autistic people.Lay Summary Many people experience intrusive memories and anxiety after a traumatic event. However, for some, these symptoms last longer and they might be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Research suggests that autistic people might be more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder and experience more severe symptoms compared to non-autistic people after traumatic events. One factor that is important in post-traumatic stress disorder development is how people think about the trauma. These might be thoughts like ‘It was my fault’, ‘I’m not safe’, ‘I’m disconnected from other people’. There has not been research into how autistic people think about traumatic events compared to non-autistic people, and this could be important for making post-traumatic stress disorder treatments more effective for them, as many of these focus on thoughts. In this study, we asked 148 autistic people and 94 non-autistic people in the United Kingdom to complete an online survey about their trauma history, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and thoughts about a traumatic event. We found that autistic people experienced more types of traumatic events directly (it happened to them), but they did not experience more types of traumatic events overall. Interestingly, both groups reported events like bullying or the death of a loved one as traumatic, but these events would not meet the official diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. As expected, autistic people reported worse post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms than non-autistic people and were more likely to meet the cut-off for post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis. Autistic people also reported more negative thoughts about the trauma, especially feeling unsafe, disconnected, ashamed or that the trauma was their fault. Having more thoughts like this was associated with being autistic and experiencing more severe post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Our findings suggest that therapies focusing on these negative thoughts could be helpful for autistic people with post-traumatic stress disorder. Future research should explore why autistic people have more of these thoughts after traumatic events and should use longitudinal or experimental designs to explore how these factors influence one another over time. Efforts to prevent negative experiences, challenge negative attitudes in society t wards autism and support positive autistic identity and well-being will be helpful for changing this in the future. It is also important that mental health services offer support for post-traumatic stress disorder even when events do not meet the current diagnostic criteria, as this might prevent autistic and non-autistic people who need support with post-traumatic stress disorder getting help. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251403405 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Post-traumatic stress disorder in autistic and non-autistic adults: The impact of appraisals on reactions to traumatic events [texte imprimé] / Rachel PROSSER, Auteur ; Freya RUMBALL, Auteur ; Dorothy KING, Auteur ; Craig STEEL, Auteur . - p.605-625. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.605-625 Mots-clés : appraisals  ASD  autism  mental health  post-traumatic stress disorder Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Research suggests autistic people experience greater post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity than non-autistic people following traumatic events. Post-trauma appraisals are fundamental in cognitive models of post-traumatic stress disorder, but have not been explored in autistic people. We aimed to explore whether we could replicate effects of heightened trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity in autistic adults, and examine how post-traumatic appraisals affect the association between autism and post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity. Two hundred forty-two autistic (n = 148) and non-autistic adults (n = 94) completed a survey measuring trauma exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity and post-trauma appraisals. Exposure to types of traumatic events did not differ significantly between the groups, but the autistic group endorsed more events that ‘happened to me’ directly. Post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity and endorsement of negative post-traumatic appraisals were significantly higher in the autistic group, specifically alienation, shame and fear appraisals. These appraisals mediated the association between autism and post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity. Therefore, as in the general population, greater endorsement of negative post-traumatic appraisals may be a risk factor for post-traumatic stress disorder symptom development in autistic adults, particularly appraisals of shame, fear and alienation. Longitudinal designs are required to confirm the direction of these effects and to elucidate factors underlying these negative appraisals in autistic people.Lay Summary Many people experience intrusive memories and anxiety after a traumatic event. However, for some, these symptoms last longer and they might be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Research suggests that autistic people might be more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder and experience more severe symptoms compared to non-autistic people after traumatic events. One factor that is important in post-traumatic stress disorder development is how people think about the trauma. These might be thoughts like ‘It was my fault’, ‘I’m not safe’, ‘I’m disconnected from other people’. There has not been research into how autistic people think about traumatic events compared to non-autistic people, and this could be important for making post-traumatic stress disorder treatments more effective for them, as many of these focus on thoughts. In this study, we asked 148 autistic people and 94 non-autistic people in the United Kingdom to complete an online survey about their trauma history, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and thoughts about a traumatic event. We found that autistic people experienced more types of traumatic events directly (it happened to them), but they did not experience more types of traumatic events overall. Interestingly, both groups reported events like bullying or the death of a loved one as traumatic, but these events would not meet the official diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. As expected, autistic people reported worse post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms than non-autistic people and were more likely to meet the cut-off for post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis. Autistic people also reported more negative thoughts about the trauma, especially feeling unsafe, disconnected, ashamed or that the trauma was their fault. Having more thoughts like this was associated with being autistic and experiencing more severe post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Our findings suggest that therapies focusing on these negative thoughts could be helpful for autistic people with post-traumatic stress disorder. Future research should explore why autistic people have more of these thoughts after traumatic events and should use longitudinal or experimental designs to explore how these factors influence one another over time. Efforts to prevent negative experiences, challenge negative attitudes in society t wards autism and support positive autistic identity and well-being will be helpful for changing this in the future. It is also important that mental health services offer support for post-traumatic stress disorder even when events do not meet the current diagnostic criteria, as this might prevent autistic and non-autistic people who need support with post-traumatic stress disorder getting help. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251403405 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Autistic adults prefer social touch less but engage just as much: The impact of social context, relationship type, sensory responsivity, and psychological factors / Macy Tsz Wing LI in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.626-641 Titre : Autistic adults prefer social touch less but engage just as much: The impact of social context, relationship type, sensory responsivity, and psychological factors Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Macy Tsz Wing LI, Auteur ; Manuel MELLO, Auteur ; Keren MACLENNAN, Auteur ; Haemy LEE MASSON, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.626-641 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism  relationship  sensory responsivity  social context  social touch  touch-related anxiety Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autistic people face touch-related challenges, yet the factors influencing these difficulties are not well understood. We developed a novel instrument to capture social touch experiences of autistic adults, along with both social and individual factors that influence them. Using a body-painting task and questionnaires, we demonstrated that the perception of touch interactions varies based on social contexts and neurotypes. Autistic adults, on average, prefer touch less, but the type of relationship influences the perceived comfort and meaningfulness of touch similarly in both groups. Regarding the appropriateness, erogeneity, and pleasantness of social touch, the autistic group showed different touch perceptions in professional and friendly scenarios compared to the non-autistic group, whereas touch in intimate scenarios was perceived similarly. Sensory responsivity, touch predictability, social confidence, and touch-related anxiety affect social touch to a greater extent than the non-autistic group. Despite these marked differences in perception, the autistic adults, on average, engage in social touch as frequently as non-autistic adults, and their satisfaction with touch is comparable. Our findings suggest that supporting autistic people would involve understanding their preferences and the contextual factors that contribute to their sense of comfort, rather than excluding them from touch interactions.Lay abstract Autistic people find certain types of touch, particularly light or unexpected touch, uncomfortable or overwhelming. The reasons for this are not fully understood. To address this, we asked both autistic and non-autistic adults how they feel about being touched in different situations and on different parts of the body. We also asked how much they enjoy touch and how they feel about being touched by people in various relationships, such as a partner, parent, or friend. Finally, we looked at how individual traits affect their experience of touch. We found that the autistic group engaged in social touch just as often as the non-autistic group and reported similar overall satisfaction. In intimate contexts, such as with a romantic partner, both groups perceived touch similarly. Both groups agreed that touch from a partner or child is the most meaningful and comfortable compared to other relationship types. Despite some similarities, autistic adults, on average, still reported enjoying social touch less overall and experiencing more touch-related challenges in romantic relationships. They also placed less importance on touch for bonding. Moreover, the autistic group rated touch as less appropriate, less pleasant, or less intimate than the non-autistic group in professional (like physiotherapy) or friendly (like a dance class) situations. While social interaction difficulties influence how both groups experience touch, other factors seem to play a stronger role for the autistic group, such as how predictable the touch is, whether they experience sensory challenges, and how socially confident they feel or how anxious about touch they are. Rather than assuming autistic people dislike touch, it is important to recognise that they may have different preferences, and that certain situations make touch feel more comfortable and enjoyable. Respecting these preferences can help make social touch more positive and meaningful, potentially improving relationship quality with autistic people. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251403906 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Autistic adults prefer social touch less but engage just as much: The impact of social context, relationship type, sensory responsivity, and psychological factors [texte imprimé] / Macy Tsz Wing LI, Auteur ; Manuel MELLO, Auteur ; Keren MACLENNAN, Auteur ; Haemy LEE MASSON, Auteur . - p.626-641. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.626-641 Mots-clés : autism  relationship  sensory responsivity  social context  social touch  touch-related anxiety Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autistic people face touch-related challenges, yet the factors influencing these difficulties are not well understood. We developed a novel instrument to capture social touch experiences of autistic adults, along with both social and individual factors that influence them. Using a body-painting task and questionnaires, we demonstrated that the perception of touch interactions varies based on social contexts and neurotypes. Autistic adults, on average, prefer touch less, but the type of relationship influences the perceived comfort and meaningfulness of touch similarly in both groups. Regarding the appropriateness, erogeneity, and pleasantness of social touch, the autistic group showed different touch perceptions in professional and friendly scenarios compared to the non-autistic group, whereas touch in intimate scenarios was perceived similarly. Sensory responsivity, touch predictability, social confidence, and touch-related anxiety affect social touch to a greater extent than the non-autistic group. Despite these marked differences in perception, the autistic adults, on average, engage in social touch as frequently as non-autistic adults, and their satisfaction with touch is comparable. Our findings suggest that supporting autistic people would involve understanding their preferences and the contextual factors that contribute to their sense of comfort, rather than excluding them from touch interactions.Lay abstract Autistic people find certain types of touch, particularly light or unexpected touch, uncomfortable or overwhelming. The reasons for this are not fully understood. To address this, we asked both autistic and non-autistic adults how they feel about being touched in different situations and on different parts of the body. We also asked how much they enjoy touch and how they feel about being touched by people in various relationships, such as a partner, parent, or friend. Finally, we looked at how individual traits affect their experience of touch. We found that the autistic group engaged in social touch just as often as the non-autistic group and reported similar overall satisfaction. In intimate contexts, such as with a romantic partner, both groups perceived touch similarly. Both groups agreed that touch from a partner or child is the most meaningful and comfortable compared to other relationship types. Despite some similarities, autistic adults, on average, still reported enjoying social touch less overall and experiencing more touch-related challenges in romantic relationships. They also placed less importance on touch for bonding. Moreover, the autistic group rated touch as less appropriate, less pleasant, or less intimate than the non-autistic group in professional (like physiotherapy) or friendly (like a dance class) situations. While social interaction difficulties influence how both groups experience touch, other factors seem to play a stronger role for the autistic group, such as how predictable the touch is, whether they experience sensory challenges, and how socially confident they feel or how anxious about touch they are. Rather than assuming autistic people dislike touch, it is important to recognise that they may have different preferences, and that certain situations make touch feel more comfortable and enjoyable. Respecting these preferences can help make social touch more positive and meaningful, potentially improving relationship quality with autistic people. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251403906 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Community views on the assessment and diagnosis of autism: Principles to guide clinical practice / Rhylee SULEK in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.642-654 Titre : Community views on the assessment and diagnosis of autism: Principles to guide clinical practice Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Rhylee SULEK, Auteur ; Rachelle WICKS, Auteur ; Emma HINZE, Auteur ; Nicole DARGUE, Auteur ; Briohny DEMPSEY, Auteur ; Emma GOODALL, Auteur ; Libby GROVES, Auteur ; David TREMBATH, Auteur ; Hannah WADDINGTON, Auteur ; Andrew J.O. WHITEHOUSE, Auteur ; Kandice J VARCIN, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.642-654 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : assessment  autism  best practice  diagnosis  principles Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : This study aimed to identify guiding principles to underpin assessment and diagnosis of autism to improve the quality, consistency and accuracy of services provided to individuals and their families. An online survey and focus groups were used to capture community perspectives of members of the Australian autistic and autism communities. A total of 871 individuals participated across the research activities, including autistic individuals (n = 253), parents of autistic individuals (n = 344), practitioners (n = 325) and members of organisations with an interest in the assessment and/or diagnosis of autism (n = 115). Three overarching themes, encompassing 15 codes, representing the principles that should underpin practice across the assessment and diagnostic process were developed (a) placing the person at the centre of the process; (b) understanding and valuing the whole person and (c) improving quality and access. Assessment and diagnosis for autism should go beyond diagnostic decision-making to include understanding of individual needs and identifying support pathways. The principles identified serve as a first step to guiding practitioners in their approach, ensuring they work in ways that promote best practice, reflect the perspectives of autistic people and engender meaningful outcomes for individuals and families that are independent of receiving a diagnostic label.Lay Abstract This study looked to identify principles of practice that could help make autism assessments and diagnoses better for autistic people and their families. To do this, the researchers asked people from the autism community in Australia to share their thoughts through an online survey and focus groups. A total of 871 people took part. This included autistic adults, parents of autistic children, professionals like psychologists and speech pathologists and people from autism-related organisations. From what people said, three main ideas stood out: (a) putting people at the centre of the process, (b) looking at the whole person and (c) improving quality and access to services. The study found that getting a diagnosis is just one part of the process. It is also important to use the assessment to help people understand themselves better and find the right support. The principles highlighted in this study can help guide professionals to do a better job when assessing autism. They encourage practices that are respectful, person-focused and based on what autistic people and their families say is important. This can lead to better outcomes for everyone, no matter whether a diagnosis is given or not. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251406094 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Community views on the assessment and diagnosis of autism: Principles to guide clinical practice [texte imprimé] / Rhylee SULEK, Auteur ; Rachelle WICKS, Auteur ; Emma HINZE, Auteur ; Nicole DARGUE, Auteur ; Briohny DEMPSEY, Auteur ; Emma GOODALL, Auteur ; Libby GROVES, Auteur ; David TREMBATH, Auteur ; Hannah WADDINGTON, Auteur ; Andrew J.O. WHITEHOUSE, Auteur ; Kandice J VARCIN, Auteur . - p.642-654. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.642-654 Mots-clés : assessment  autism  best practice  diagnosis  principles Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : This study aimed to identify guiding principles to underpin assessment and diagnosis of autism to improve the quality, consistency and accuracy of services provided to individuals and their families. An online survey and focus groups were used to capture community perspectives of members of the Australian autistic and autism communities. A total of 871 individuals participated across the research activities, including autistic individuals (n = 253), parents of autistic individuals (n = 344), practitioners (n = 325) and members of organisations with an interest in the assessment and/or diagnosis of autism (n = 115). Three overarching themes, encompassing 15 codes, representing the principles that should underpin practice across the assessment and diagnostic process were developed (a) placing the person at the centre of the process; (b) understanding and valuing the whole person and (c) improving quality and access. Assessment and diagnosis for autism should go beyond diagnostic decision-making to include understanding of individual needs and identifying support pathways. The principles identified serve as a first step to guiding practitioners in their approach, ensuring they work in ways that promote best practice, reflect the perspectives of autistic people and engender meaningful outcomes for individuals and families that are independent of receiving a diagnostic label.Lay Abstract This study looked to identify principles of practice that could help make autism assessments and diagnoses better for autistic people and their families. To do this, the researchers asked people from the autism community in Australia to share their thoughts through an online survey and focus groups. A total of 871 people took part. This included autistic adults, parents of autistic children, professionals like psychologists and speech pathologists and people from autism-related organisations. From what people said, three main ideas stood out: (a) putting people at the centre of the process, (b) looking at the whole person and (c) improving quality and access to services. The study found that getting a diagnosis is just one part of the process. It is also important to use the assessment to help people understand themselves better and find the right support. The principles highlighted in this study can help guide professionals to do a better job when assessing autism. They encourage practices that are respectful, person-focused and based on what autistic people and their families say is important. This can lead to better outcomes for everyone, no matter whether a diagnosis is given or not. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251406094 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

‘Breaking down a barrier’: Autistic young people see virtual reality as a possible social support, but not a substitute for in-person interactions / Nathan CARUANA in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.655-667 Titre : ‘Breaking down a barrier’: Autistic young people see virtual reality as a possible social support, but not a substitute for in-person interactions Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Nathan CARUANA, Auteur ; Terry GOETZ, Auteur ; Patrick NALEPKA, Auteur ; Elizabeth PELLICANO, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.655-667 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism  social interaction  virtual reality  young people Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autistic people often face challenges in face-to-face social interactions, especially in unfamiliar or high-stakes situations. Virtual reality has been proposed as a tool to support social connection by offering a more controlled and accessible environment. While previous research has focused on virtual reality–based social skills training, little is known about how autistic people experience social interactions in virtual reality. We interviewed 22 autistic young people (aged 9–22 years, MAge = 14.5) after they engaged in a social interaction with a stranger in immersive virtual reality. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we found that participants generally found virtual reality interactions tolerable, engaging and helpful as a low-pressure first step towards more challenging social situations. Virtual reality was valued for reducing sensory overload, increasing confidence and offering novel social opportunities. However, participants did not view virtual reality as a replacement for in-person interaction, which they saw as essential for building meaningful relationships. These findings highlight the potential of virtual reality to support autistic people by modifying the social environment rather than demanding behavioural change. They also challenge deficit-based assumptions about autistic social motivation, emphasising the importance of aligning technological supports with autistic people’s lived experiences and preferences.Lay abstract Autistic young people can find social situations stressful and overwhelming, particularly if meeting strangers in high-stakes settings (e.g. first date, job interview). Virtual reality has been suggested as a tool that might help make these interactions easier. In this study, we asked 22 autistic young people, aged 9–22, to try out a social interaction in virtual reality and then tell us about their experience. We found that most participants enjoyed using virtual reality and felt it made social interactions feel safer and less intimidating. They said virtual reality helped reduce distractions and gave them more control over how they presented themselves. Some even said it made them feel more confident when talking to others. However, young people were clear that virtual reality should not replace real-life interactions. They said that in-person contact is still important for building real connections with others. While virtual reality can be a helpful first step when interacting with new people, especially in situations that feel scary or unfamiliar, it is not a substitute for face-to-face relationships. This research shows that autistic young people value social connection and want tools that support, rather than replace, real-life interaction. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251406114 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] ‘Breaking down a barrier’: Autistic young people see virtual reality as a possible social support, but not a substitute for in-person interactions [texte imprimé] / Nathan CARUANA, Auteur ; Terry GOETZ, Auteur ; Patrick NALEPKA, Auteur ; Elizabeth PELLICANO, Auteur . - p.655-667. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.655-667 Mots-clés : autism  social interaction  virtual reality  young people Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autistic people often face challenges in face-to-face social interactions, especially in unfamiliar or high-stakes situations. Virtual reality has been proposed as a tool to support social connection by offering a more controlled and accessible environment. While previous research has focused on virtual reality–based social skills training, little is known about how autistic people experience social interactions in virtual reality. We interviewed 22 autistic young people (aged 9–22 years, MAge = 14.5) after they engaged in a social interaction with a stranger in immersive virtual reality. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we found that participants generally found virtual reality interactions tolerable, engaging and helpful as a low-pressure first step towards more challenging social situations. Virtual reality was valued for reducing sensory overload, increasing confidence and offering novel social opportunities. However, participants did not view virtual reality as a replacement for in-person interaction, which they saw as essential for building meaningful relationships. These findings highlight the potential of virtual reality to support autistic people by modifying the social environment rather than demanding behavioural change. They also challenge deficit-based assumptions about autistic social motivation, emphasising the importance of aligning technological supports with autistic people’s lived experiences and preferences.Lay abstract Autistic young people can find social situations stressful and overwhelming, particularly if meeting strangers in high-stakes settings (e.g. first date, job interview). Virtual reality has been suggested as a tool that might help make these interactions easier. In this study, we asked 22 autistic young people, aged 9–22, to try out a social interaction in virtual reality and then tell us about their experience. We found that most participants enjoyed using virtual reality and felt it made social interactions feel safer and less intimidating. They said virtual reality helped reduce distractions and gave them more control over how they presented themselves. Some even said it made them feel more confident when talking to others. However, young people were clear that virtual reality should not replace real-life interactions. They said that in-person contact is still important for building real connections with others. While virtual reality can be a helpful first step when interacting with new people, especially in situations that feel scary or unfamiliar, it is not a substitute for face-to-face relationships. This research shows that autistic young people value social connection and want tools that support, rather than replace, real-life interaction. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251406114 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Scoping review: Facilitators, barriers, and cultural adaptations in the caregiver skills training program for children with developmental concerns / Cecilia MONTIEL-NAVA in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.668-681 Titre : Scoping review: Facilitators, barriers, and cultural adaptations in the caregiver skills training program for children with developmental concerns Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Cecilia MONTIEL-NAVA, Auteur ; Maria C. MONTENEGRO, Auteur ; Ana C. RAMIREZ, Auteur ; Victoria VILLARREAL, Auteur ; Lucia MURILLO CHACKO, Auteur ; Pamela DIXON, Auteur ; Sarah DABABNAH, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.668-681 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism  cultural adaptation  developmental disabilities  parent-mediated interventions  task-shifting Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autism interventions are predominantly developed in high-income countries, limiting access for families in low- and middle-income countries due to systemic, cultural, and logistical barriers. The Caregiver Skills Training program aims to address this disparity by equipping caregivers with practical skills. This scoping review examines the cultural adaptations, facilitators, and barriers to the implementation of Caregiver Skills Training, focusing on its accessibility, feasibility, and acceptability. A comprehensive search of ERIC, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science identified eligible studies that reported cultural or linguistic adaptations of Caregiver Skills Training. Forward searches and manual reference checks supplemented the review. Data were extracted using the Cultural Adaptation Checklist framework and analyzed for patterns in adaptation, training, barriers, and facilitators. Seventeen studies across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America highlighted diverse adaptations in language, content, and delivery methods. Facilitators included community partnerships and task-shifting with non-specialists, while barriers involved logistical challenges, stigma, and resource constraints. Caregiver Skills Training’s flexible, culturally responsive framework makes it a viable model for scaling autism interventions globally. Tailored adaptations and strong support systems for facilitators are essential to overcoming systemic challenges and ensuring equitable access in low- and middle-income countries.Lay abstract How the Caregiver Skills Training Program Helps Families WorldwideThe Caregiver Skills Training program was designed to help families of children with autism and other developmental challenges in low-resource settings. Caregiver Skills Training empowers parents and caregivers by teaching them practical strategies to improve their child’s communication, social interaction, and daily living skills. This program is unique because it does not require a formal diagnosis and is designed to be delivered by trained non-specialists, such as community health workers. A review of 17 studies from different countries examined how the Caregiver Skills Training program was adapted to fit the cultural and practical needs of families in each region. For example, materials were translated, simplified, and paired with visual aids to help parents with lower literacy levels. Non-specialist facilitators helped make the program more accessible, and online or hybrid delivery methods increased participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, challenges remain. Families often face barriers like limited transportation, stigma, and lack of Internet access, which can prevent them from fully participating in the program. Facilitators also need more training and support to maintain program quality. Despite these obstacles, Caregiver Skills Training shows promise as a global solution to bridge the gap in autism care, especially in underserved communities. This review highlights the importance of adapting programs like Caregiver Skills Training to meet the unique needs of families worldwide, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of where they live. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251406399 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Scoping review: Facilitators, barriers, and cultural adaptations in the caregiver skills training program for children with developmental concerns [texte imprimé] / Cecilia MONTIEL-NAVA, Auteur ; Maria C. MONTENEGRO, Auteur ; Ana C. RAMIREZ, Auteur ; Victoria VILLARREAL, Auteur ; Lucia MURILLO CHACKO, Auteur ; Pamela DIXON, Auteur ; Sarah DABABNAH, Auteur . - p.668-681. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.668-681 Mots-clés : autism  cultural adaptation  developmental disabilities  parent-mediated interventions  task-shifting Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autism interventions are predominantly developed in high-income countries, limiting access for families in low- and middle-income countries due to systemic, cultural, and logistical barriers. The Caregiver Skills Training program aims to address this disparity by equipping caregivers with practical skills. This scoping review examines the cultural adaptations, facilitators, and barriers to the implementation of Caregiver Skills Training, focusing on its accessibility, feasibility, and acceptability. A comprehensive search of ERIC, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science identified eligible studies that reported cultural or linguistic adaptations of Caregiver Skills Training. Forward searches and manual reference checks supplemented the review. Data were extracted using the Cultural Adaptation Checklist framework and analyzed for patterns in adaptation, training, barriers, and facilitators. Seventeen studies across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America highlighted diverse adaptations in language, content, and delivery methods. Facilitators included community partnerships and task-shifting with non-specialists, while barriers involved logistical challenges, stigma, and resource constraints. Caregiver Skills Training’s flexible, culturally responsive framework makes it a viable model for scaling autism interventions globally. Tailored adaptations and strong support systems for facilitators are essential to overcoming systemic challenges and ensuring equitable access in low- and middle-income countries.Lay abstract How the Caregiver Skills Training Program Helps Families WorldwideThe Caregiver Skills Training program was designed to help families of children with autism and other developmental challenges in low-resource settings. Caregiver Skills Training empowers parents and caregivers by teaching them practical strategies to improve their child’s communication, social interaction, and daily living skills. This program is unique because it does not require a formal diagnosis and is designed to be delivered by trained non-specialists, such as community health workers. A review of 17 studies from different countries examined how the Caregiver Skills Training program was adapted to fit the cultural and practical needs of families in each region. For example, materials were translated, simplified, and paired with visual aids to help parents with lower literacy levels. Non-specialist facilitators helped make the program more accessible, and online or hybrid delivery methods increased participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, challenges remain. Families often face barriers like limited transportation, stigma, and lack of Internet access, which can prevent them from fully participating in the program. Facilitators also need more training and support to maintain program quality. Despite these obstacles, Caregiver Skills Training shows promise as a global solution to bridge the gap in autism care, especially in underserved communities. This review highlights the importance of adapting programs like Caregiver Skills Training to meet the unique needs of families worldwide, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of where they live. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251406399 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

‘It’s quite difficult to put Autistic relationships in a box’: A qualitative exploration of romantic relationships in gender and sexually diverse Autistic adults / Tina CIRIC in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.682-694 Titre : ‘It’s quite difficult to put Autistic relationships in a box’: A qualitative exploration of romantic relationships in gender and sexually diverse Autistic adults Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Tina CIRIC, Auteur ; Luka C.J. WHITE, Auteur ; Claire ALLISON-DUNCAN, Auteur ; Ellen MALONEY, Auteur ; Karri GILLESPIE-SMITH, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.682-694 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism  gender minority  relationships  sexual minority Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autistic people enjoy friendships and sexual and romantic relationships. Many Autistic people are also part of a gender or sexual minority, yet gender and sexual minorities are often under-represented in autism research. The current study asked, ‘How do gender and sexually diverse Autistic adults experience and perceive romantic relationships?’ Sixteen gender and/or sexual minority Autistic adults took part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Four main themes were identified from the interview data: (1) ‘It’s Quite Difficult to Put Autistic Relationships Into a Box’, (2) Challenging Social Norms, (3) The Perks and Perils of Online Dating and (4) Understanding and Neurotype. Overall, participants described their relationships as individual, inherently valuable and shaped by unique preferences, mutual understanding and explicit communication. They also emphasized the fluidity between friendships and romantic partnerships, the importance of mutual understanding and the inherent value of rejecting prescriptive social norms in favour of individualized romantic relationship dynamics. These findings highlight relationship structures in Autistic groups who identify as gender and/or sexual minority.Lay abstract Autistic people enjoy friendships and sexual and romantic relationships. A proportion of the Autistic community identify as being a part of a gender and sexual minority (e.g., trans, non-binary, gay, lesbian, etc.), yet this group is often under-represented in autism research. The current study focused on this group specifically and asked them, ‘How do gender and sexually diverse Autistic adults experience and perceive romantic relationships?’ Sixteen gender and/or sexual minority Autistic adults took part in interviews. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Four main themes were identified from the interview data: (1) ‘It’s Quite Difficult to Put Autistic Relationships Into a Box’, (2) Challenging Social Norms, (3) The Perks and Perils of Online Dating and (4) Understanding and Neurotype. The participants described their relationships as individual, valuable and shaped by unique preferences, mutual understanding and clear communication. They also talked about how the lines between friendships and romantic partnerships can be blurred, for example, sometimes they have sex with their friends and don’t see this as an activity exclusively for romantic relationships. They also mentioned the importance of mutual understanding and the inherent value of rejecting social norms in favour of more individualized romantic relationships. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251407765 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] ‘It’s quite difficult to put Autistic relationships in a box’: A qualitative exploration of romantic relationships in gender and sexually diverse Autistic adults [texte imprimé] / Tina CIRIC, Auteur ; Luka C.J. WHITE, Auteur ; Claire ALLISON-DUNCAN, Auteur ; Ellen MALONEY, Auteur ; Karri GILLESPIE-SMITH, Auteur . - p.682-694. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.682-694 Mots-clés : autism  gender minority  relationships  sexual minority Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autistic people enjoy friendships and sexual and romantic relationships. Many Autistic people are also part of a gender or sexual minority, yet gender and sexual minorities are often under-represented in autism research. The current study asked, ‘How do gender and sexually diverse Autistic adults experience and perceive romantic relationships?’ Sixteen gender and/or sexual minority Autistic adults took part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Four main themes were identified from the interview data: (1) ‘It’s Quite Difficult to Put Autistic Relationships Into a Box’, (2) Challenging Social Norms, (3) The Perks and Perils of Online Dating and (4) Understanding and Neurotype. Overall, participants described their relationships as individual, inherently valuable and shaped by unique preferences, mutual understanding and explicit communication. They also emphasized the fluidity between friendships and romantic partnerships, the importance of mutual understanding and the inherent value of rejecting prescriptive social norms in favour of individualized romantic relationship dynamics. These findings highlight relationship structures in Autistic groups who identify as gender and/or sexual minority.Lay abstract Autistic people enjoy friendships and sexual and romantic relationships. A proportion of the Autistic community identify as being a part of a gender and sexual minority (e.g., trans, non-binary, gay, lesbian, etc.), yet this group is often under-represented in autism research. The current study focused on this group specifically and asked them, ‘How do gender and sexually diverse Autistic adults experience and perceive romantic relationships?’ Sixteen gender and/or sexual minority Autistic adults took part in interviews. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Four main themes were identified from the interview data: (1) ‘It’s Quite Difficult to Put Autistic Relationships Into a Box’, (2) Challenging Social Norms, (3) The Perks and Perils of Online Dating and (4) Understanding and Neurotype. The participants described their relationships as individual, valuable and shaped by unique preferences, mutual understanding and clear communication. They also talked about how the lines between friendships and romantic partnerships can be blurred, for example, sometimes they have sex with their friends and don’t see this as an activity exclusively for romantic relationships. They also mentioned the importance of mutual understanding and the inherent value of rejecting social norms in favour of more individualized romantic relationships. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251407765 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Profiles of parent–teacher discrepancy on autistic children’s adaptive functioning / Rachel LEES THORNE in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.695-706 Titre : Profiles of parent–teacher discrepancy on autistic children’s adaptive functioning Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Rachel LEES THORNE, Auteur ; Nicky WRIGHT, Auteur ; Andres DE LOS REYES, Auteur ; Isabel M. SMITH, Auteur ; Anat ZAIDMAN-ZAIT, Auteur ; Lonnie ZWAIGENBAUM, Auteur ; Tracy VAILLANCOURT, Auteur ; Peter SZATMARI, Auteur ; Teresa A. BENNETT, Auteur ; Eric DUKU, Auteur ; Annie E. RICHARD, Auteur ; Connor KERNS, Auteur ; Rachael BEDFORD, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.695-706 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : adaptive functioning  executive function  latent profile analysis  multi-informant Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Clinical guidelines recommend collecting reports from multiple informants when identifying and diagnosing challenges in children. The current study examined parent–teacher discrepancies in rating of autistic children’s adaptive functioning and how these related to children’s executive functions. Participants (n = 194) were a subsample of autistic children (mean age = 9.2 years; 86% male) from the Pathways in ASD cohort. We used latent profile analysis to characterise profiles based on both parent and teacher reports of adaptive functioning levels. We tested links between these profiles and indices of children’s executive function and other clinical correlates. Four profiles were characterised: a lower adaptive functioning-parent higher profile, in which parents reported relatively higher scores than teachers (n = 45), an intermediate adaptive functioning profile (n = 70) and a higher adaptive functioning profile (n = 39; both characterised by similar ratings between informants) and finally, a higher adaptive functioning-teacher higher profile, in which teachers reported relatively higher scores than parents (n = 40). The higher adaptive functioning-teacher higher profile showed fewer teacher-rated executive function challenges and higher IQ compared to the other profiles. Characterising profiles facilitates interpretation of informant discrepancies and identification of clinical correlates to inform clinical decision-making.Lay abstract Clinicians are advised to collect reports from multiple informants (e.g., parents and teachers), when making assessments about the wellbeing of autistic children. Parents and teachers observe children in different environments (home vs. school); therefore, collecting both reports can give a fuller account of a child’s strengths and challenges. In this investigation, we looked at parent and teacher reports of autistic children’s adaptive functioning, an important body of skills necessary for children to navigate daily life including practical, communication and conceptual skills. Currently, we know little about child characteristics associated with informant discrepancies, which means that it is a challenge to identify which children are most likely to display behaviour differently across contexts. We grouped n = 194 children based on the level of adaptive functioning reported by both their parent and teachers, and we compared the groups on key characteristics. We identified four groups: a lower adaptive functioning group with higher parent scores (n = 45), an intermediate group with similar scores from both informants (n = 70), a higher adaptive functioning group with similar scores from both informants (n = 39) and a higher adaptive functioning group with higher teacher scores (n = 40). Our findings indicate that many children display adaptive functioning skills differently across contexts, across levels of adaptive functioning skills. We found that children across groups differed on IQ, autistic traits and teacher-rated executive functioning. These findings can help clinicians identify and evaluate autistic children that might be likely to demonstrate different adaptive functioning skills in different environments, which could help with assessment and treatment planning. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251407310 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Profiles of parent–teacher discrepancy on autistic children’s adaptive functioning [texte imprimé] / Rachel LEES THORNE, Auteur ; Nicky WRIGHT, Auteur ; Andres DE LOS REYES, Auteur ; Isabel M. SMITH, Auteur ; Anat ZAIDMAN-ZAIT, Auteur ; Lonnie ZWAIGENBAUM, Auteur ; Tracy VAILLANCOURT, Auteur ; Peter SZATMARI, Auteur ; Teresa A. BENNETT, Auteur ; Eric DUKU, Auteur ; Annie E. RICHARD, Auteur ; Connor KERNS, Auteur ; Rachael BEDFORD, Auteur . - p.695-706. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.695-706 Mots-clés : adaptive functioning  executive function  latent profile analysis  multi-informant Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Clinical guidelines recommend collecting reports from multiple informants when identifying and diagnosing challenges in children. The current study examined parent–teacher discrepancies in rating of autistic children’s adaptive functioning and how these related to children’s executive functions. Participants (n = 194) were a subsample of autistic children (mean age = 9.2 years; 86% male) from the Pathways in ASD cohort. We used latent profile analysis to characterise profiles based on both parent and teacher reports of adaptive functioning levels. We tested links between these profiles and indices of children’s executive function and other clinical correlates. Four profiles were characterised: a lower adaptive functioning-parent higher profile, in which parents reported relatively higher scores than teachers (n = 45), an intermediate adaptive functioning profile (n = 70) and a higher adaptive functioning profile (n = 39; both characterised by similar ratings between informants) and finally, a higher adaptive functioning-teacher higher profile, in which teachers reported relatively higher scores than parents (n = 40). The higher adaptive functioning-teacher higher profile showed fewer teacher-rated executive function challenges and higher IQ compared to the other profiles. Characterising profiles facilitates interpretation of informant discrepancies and identification of clinical correlates to inform clinical decision-making.Lay abstract Clinicians are advised to collect reports from multiple informants (e.g., parents and teachers), when making assessments about the wellbeing of autistic children. Parents and teachers observe children in different environments (home vs. school); therefore, collecting both reports can give a fuller account of a child’s strengths and challenges. In this investigation, we looked at parent and teacher reports of autistic children’s adaptive functioning, an important body of skills necessary for children to navigate daily life including practical, communication and conceptual skills. Currently, we know little about child characteristics associated with informant discrepancies, which means that it is a challenge to identify which children are most likely to display behaviour differently across contexts. We grouped n = 194 children based on the level of adaptive functioning reported by both their parent and teachers, and we compared the groups on key characteristics. We identified four groups: a lower adaptive functioning group with higher parent scores (n = 45), an intermediate group with similar scores from both informants (n = 70), a higher adaptive functioning group with similar scores from both informants (n = 39) and a higher adaptive functioning group with higher teacher scores (n = 40). Our findings indicate that many children display adaptive functioning skills differently across contexts, across levels of adaptive functioning skills. We found that children across groups differed on IQ, autistic traits and teacher-rated executive functioning. These findings can help clinicians identify and evaluate autistic children that might be likely to demonstrate different adaptive functioning skills in different environments, which could help with assessment and treatment planning. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251407310 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

A mixed-methods study examining the ripple effect of inclusive employment on reducing stigma toward autistic people in South Korea / Hyesung PARK in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.707-722 Titre : A mixed-methods study examining the ripple effect of inclusive employment on reducing stigma toward autistic people in South Korea Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Hyesung PARK, Auteur ; JiHoi NA, Auteur ; So Yoon KIM, Auteur ; SoHyun LEE, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.707-722 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism  contact  contact theory  employment  intergroup bias theory  stigma  strength-based  systemic change Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : This mixed-methods study examines how contact with Autistar, a Korean company providing strength-based, institutional-level support to autistic designers, is associated with stigma toward autistic people. One-hundred thirty-eight non-autistic community members completed an online survey; mixed-effects and stepwise regression analyses assessed relationships between contact with Autistar and stigma. Focus group interviews with 11 participants drawn from this full survey sample who had extensive contact with Autistar were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Quantitative analyses indicated that greater contact breadth with Autistar was linked to lower stigma. In particular, participation in exhibitions and introduction by acquaintances predicted lower stigma. Qualitative analysis revealed that sustained and informed contact, which allowed participants to notice similarities between themselves and autistic employees and the strengths of these employees, helped them view autistic people as part of their ingroup. This study linked contact theory and ingroup bias theory to explain how high-quality contact may be associated with perceiving autistic people as part of one’s ingroup. The findings underscored the societal impact of an inclusive employment model, which extends beyond individual interactions to influence societal attitudes, and suggested the need for further research on systemic policies to expand such initiatives.Lay abstract Autistic people often face stigma, meaning they are treated unfairly or seen as different in a negative way. This stigma can make it difficult for them to find jobs, build relationships, and fully participate in society. This study looks at how Autistar may help change the way people think about autism. Autistar is a South Korean company that hires and supports autistic designers. We wanted to understand if seeing and interacting with Autistar and autistic designers at Autistar could help reduce stigma. To do this, we surveyed 138 non-autistic people who had some level of contact with Autistar. We asked about their experiences and attitudes toward autistic people. We also conducted group interviews with 11 participants who had more experience with the company to get deeper insights. Quantitative analysis showed that people who had more interactions with Autistar reported more positive attitudes. The results from the interviews showed that seeing autistic people’s talents helped break stereotypes. Seeing autistic people at exhibitions, learning about them, or meeting them through friends and family was linked to less stigma. Some participants said they no longer saw autistic people as “different” but as part of the same world with valuable skills. Participants were more comfortable working with or spending time with autistic people than before interacting with autistic employees of Autistar. This study shows that inclusive workplaces like this can help change how people think about autism. By creating more job opportunities with proper support for autistic people, we may be able to build a more inclusive society. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251407763 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] A mixed-methods study examining the ripple effect of inclusive employment on reducing stigma toward autistic people in South Korea [texte imprimé] / Hyesung PARK, Auteur ; JiHoi NA, Auteur ; So Yoon KIM, Auteur ; SoHyun LEE, Auteur . - p.707-722. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.707-722 Mots-clés : autism  contact  contact theory  employment  intergroup bias theory  stigma  strength-based  systemic change Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : This mixed-methods study examines how contact with Autistar, a Korean company providing strength-based, institutional-level support to autistic designers, is associated with stigma toward autistic people. One-hundred thirty-eight non-autistic community members completed an online survey; mixed-effects and stepwise regression analyses assessed relationships between contact with Autistar and stigma. Focus group interviews with 11 participants drawn from this full survey sample who had extensive contact with Autistar were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Quantitative analyses indicated that greater contact breadth with Autistar was linked to lower stigma. In particular, participation in exhibitions and introduction by acquaintances predicted lower stigma. Qualitative analysis revealed that sustained and informed contact, which allowed participants to notice similarities between themselves and autistic employees and the strengths of these employees, helped them view autistic people as part of their ingroup. This study linked contact theory and ingroup bias theory to explain how high-quality contact may be associated with perceiving autistic people as part of one’s ingroup. The findings underscored the societal impact of an inclusive employment model, which extends beyond individual interactions to influence societal attitudes, and suggested the need for further research on systemic policies to expand such initiatives.Lay abstract Autistic people often face stigma, meaning they are treated unfairly or seen as different in a negative way. This stigma can make it difficult for them to find jobs, build relationships, and fully participate in society. This study looks at how Autistar may help change the way people think about autism. Autistar is a South Korean company that hires and supports autistic designers. We wanted to understand if seeing and interacting with Autistar and autistic designers at Autistar could help reduce stigma. To do this, we surveyed 138 non-autistic people who had some level of contact with Autistar. We asked about their experiences and attitudes toward autistic people. We also conducted group interviews with 11 participants who had more experience with the company to get deeper insights. Quantitative analysis showed that people who had more interactions with Autistar reported more positive attitudes. The results from the interviews showed that seeing autistic people’s talents helped break stereotypes. Seeing autistic people at exhibitions, learning about them, or meeting them through friends and family was linked to less stigma. Some participants said they no longer saw autistic people as “different” but as part of the same world with valuable skills. Participants were more comfortable working with or spending time with autistic people than before interacting with autistic employees of Autistar. This study shows that inclusive workplaces like this can help change how people think about autism. By creating more job opportunities with proper support for autistic people, we may be able to build a more inclusive society. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251407763 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Breastfeeding and autism: An electronic health records study of baby wellness visit records / Ayelet BEN-SASSON in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.723-735 Titre : Breastfeeding and autism: An electronic health records study of baby wellness visit records Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Ayelet BEN-SASSON, Auteur ; Aviva MIMOUNI-BLOCH, Auteur ; Sukaina SAMHAT-DARAWSHI, Auteur ; Keren ILANN, Auteur ; Lidia V. GABIS, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.723-735 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism  baby wellness visits  breastfeeding  electronic health records  socioeconomic Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Evidence supporting the association between breastfeeding patterns and autism is inconsistent. This study examined sociodemographic and birth factors related to breastfeeding duration and subsequent autism spectrum disorder (autism) diagnosis according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, compared to a neurotypically developing cohort, based on electronic health records. Demographics, feeding preferences, and breastfeeding duration as reported by parents during routine baby wellness visits were analyzed for a cohort of 11,766 (1.9%) children with autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and a random subsample of 12,000 (2.03%) neurotypically developing children. Autism spectrum disorder diagnosis was based on a national autism registry and assigned after electronic health records were completed. Preterm, very low birth weight, multiple births, and complex medical comorbidities were excluded. Infants subsequently diagnosed with autism were breastfed for an average of 5.0 months, 1.5 months shorter than neurotypically developing. Fewer autism spectrum disorder infants were exclusively breastfed in the first year of life. Two-way analysis of variance indicated a significant effect of socioeconomic status and autism spectrum disorder on breastfeeding duration, and a significant interaction of socioeconomic status with autism spectrum disorder. Shorter breastfeeding duration among infants with subsequent autism spectrum disorder was confirmed, calling for closer monitoring for autism traits in infants with breastfeeding difficulties. These challenges were independent of birth parameters; however, they were influenced by socioeconomic factors.Lay Abstract This study found that infants later diagnosed with autism were breastfed for a shorter duration than their typically developing peers, with differences influenced by socioeconomic status. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring breastfeeding challenges as a potential early indicator of autism, particularly in families of mid-range socioeconomic status. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251409334 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Breastfeeding and autism: An electronic health records study of baby wellness visit records [texte imprimé] / Ayelet BEN-SASSON, Auteur ; Aviva MIMOUNI-BLOCH, Auteur ; Sukaina SAMHAT-DARAWSHI, Auteur ; Keren ILANN, Auteur ; Lidia V. GABIS, Auteur . - p.723-735. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.723-735 Mots-clés : autism  baby wellness visits  breastfeeding  electronic health records  socioeconomic Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Evidence supporting the association between breastfeeding patterns and autism is inconsistent. This study examined sociodemographic and birth factors related to breastfeeding duration and subsequent autism spectrum disorder (autism) diagnosis according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, compared to a neurotypically developing cohort, based on electronic health records. Demographics, feeding preferences, and breastfeeding duration as reported by parents during routine baby wellness visits were analyzed for a cohort of 11,766 (1.9%) children with autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and a random subsample of 12,000 (2.03%) neurotypically developing children. Autism spectrum disorder diagnosis was based on a national autism registry and assigned after electronic health records were completed. Preterm, very low birth weight, multiple births, and complex medical comorbidities were excluded. Infants subsequently diagnosed with autism were breastfed for an average of 5.0 months, 1.5 months shorter than neurotypically developing. Fewer autism spectrum disorder infants were exclusively breastfed in the first year of life. Two-way analysis of variance indicated a significant effect of socioeconomic status and autism spectrum disorder on breastfeeding duration, and a significant interaction of socioeconomic status with autism spectrum disorder. Shorter breastfeeding duration among infants with subsequent autism spectrum disorder was confirmed, calling for closer monitoring for autism traits in infants with breastfeeding difficulties. These challenges were independent of birth parameters; however, they were influenced by socioeconomic factors.Lay Abstract This study found that infants later diagnosed with autism were breastfed for a shorter duration than their typically developing peers, with differences influenced by socioeconomic status. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring breastfeeding challenges as a potential early indicator of autism, particularly in families of mid-range socioeconomic status. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251409334 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Partner-dependent communication without dynamic adaptation in autism / Saskia B.J. KOCH in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.736-747 Titre : Partner-dependent communication without dynamic adaptation in autism Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Saskia B.J. KOCH, Auteur ; Jordy VAN LANGEN, Auteur ; Jana BAŠNÁKOVÁ, Auteur ; Arjen STOLK, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.736-747 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : audience design  social anxiety  social development  social interaction  stereotypes Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent communication challenges, often compounded by social anxiety. Although differences in perspective-taking, cognitive flexibility, and social motivation have been implicated in these challenges, their influence on live interpersonal interactions remains unclear. In this study, we quantitatively examined how autistic and non-autistic individuals with varying levels of social anxiety adapted their communication during experimentally controlled interactions with two ostensibly distinct partners—a child and an adult—both portrayed by the same role-blind confederate. Autistic participants were equally motivated and capable as non-autistic participants in adjusting their communication to stereotypical assumptions about a partner’s abilities, spontaneously using greater emphasis when addressing the presumed less capable child. However, they were less likely to modify these stereotype-driven behaviors in response to interaction-based evidence of partners’ equal competence. While non-autistic participants dynamically adapted their communication to treat both partners equivalently, autistic participants maintained their stereotype-driven adjustments throughout the interaction. Preregistered analyses further linked non-autistic individuals’ adaptive responses to early social exposure, a developmental factor not observed in autistic participants. Together, these findings highlight a core interactional capacity, shaped by early social experiences and operating on interaction-based evidence, as central to understanding communication challenges in autism.Lay abstract Everyday communication can be challenging for autistic individuals, particularly when social anxiety is involved. Research suggests that differences in understanding and adapting to others may contribute to these challenges, but it remains unclear whether and how these differences affect real-time interactions. This study invited autistic and non-autistic participants with varying levels of social anxiety to interact online with two “partners.” One partner was introduced as a child and the other as an adult, although in reality the same actor played both roles without knowing which role he was assigned. All participants initially emphasized their communication more with the presumed child, whom they assumed was less capable. Over time, however, non-autistic participants adapted their approach, treating both partners equally as they gathered evidence that the child was just as competent as the adult. In contrast, autistic participants continued to treat the child as less capable throughout the interaction. Moreover, non-autistic participants who adapted more quickly tended to have experienced greater early social exposure in daycare, a relationship that was not observed in autistic participants. These findings suggest that while autistic individuals are willing and able to adjust their communication based on initial assumptions about others, they are less likely to revise these adjustments in response to evidence of a partner’s actual understanding during interaction, a skill that appears to develop differently for them from an early age. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251410418 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Partner-dependent communication without dynamic adaptation in autism [texte imprimé] / Saskia B.J. KOCH, Auteur ; Jordy VAN LANGEN, Auteur ; Jana BAŠNÁKOVÁ, Auteur ; Arjen STOLK, Auteur . - p.736-747. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.736-747 Mots-clés : audience design  social anxiety  social development  social interaction  stereotypes Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent communication challenges, often compounded by social anxiety. Although differences in perspective-taking, cognitive flexibility, and social motivation have been implicated in these challenges, their influence on live interpersonal interactions remains unclear. In this study, we quantitatively examined how autistic and non-autistic individuals with varying levels of social anxiety adapted their communication during experimentally controlled interactions with two ostensibly distinct partners—a child and an adult—both portrayed by the same role-blind confederate. Autistic participants were equally motivated and capable as non-autistic participants in adjusting their communication to stereotypical assumptions about a partner’s abilities, spontaneously using greater emphasis when addressing the presumed less capable child. However, they were less likely to modify these stereotype-driven behaviors in response to interaction-based evidence of partners’ equal competence. While non-autistic participants dynamically adapted their communication to treat both partners equivalently, autistic participants maintained their stereotype-driven adjustments throughout the interaction. Preregistered analyses further linked non-autistic individuals’ adaptive responses to early social exposure, a developmental factor not observed in autistic participants. Together, these findings highlight a core interactional capacity, shaped by early social experiences and operating on interaction-based evidence, as central to understanding communication challenges in autism.Lay abstract Everyday communication can be challenging for autistic individuals, particularly when social anxiety is involved. Research suggests that differences in understanding and adapting to others may contribute to these challenges, but it remains unclear whether and how these differences affect real-time interactions. This study invited autistic and non-autistic participants with varying levels of social anxiety to interact online with two “partners.” One partner was introduced as a child and the other as an adult, although in reality the same actor played both roles without knowing which role he was assigned. All participants initially emphasized their communication more with the presumed child, whom they assumed was less capable. Over time, however, non-autistic participants adapted their approach, treating both partners equally as they gathered evidence that the child was just as competent as the adult. In contrast, autistic participants continued to treat the child as less capable throughout the interaction. Moreover, non-autistic participants who adapted more quickly tended to have experienced greater early social exposure in daycare, a relationship that was not observed in autistic participants. These findings suggest that while autistic individuals are willing and able to adjust their communication based on initial assumptions about others, they are less likely to revise these adjustments in response to evidence of a partner’s actual understanding during interaction, a skill that appears to develop differently for them from an early age. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251410418 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

A double-masked randomised actively controlled trial of KONTAKT™ social skills toolbox for Australian autistic children / Bahareh AFSHARNEJAD in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.748-766 Titre : A double-masked randomised actively controlled trial of KONTAKT™ social skills toolbox for Australian autistic children Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Bahareh AFSHARNEJAD, Auteur ; Elinda Ai Lim LEE, Auteur ; Maya HAYDEN-EVANS, Auteur ; Anna FRIDELL, Auteur ; Christina COCO, Auteur ; Tasha ALACH, Auteur ; Mathew JOHNSON, Auteur ; Sven BÖLTE, Auteur ; Sonya GIRDLER, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.748-766 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : active control group  autistic children  double-masked randomised controlled trial  KONTAKT™  social skills group training Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : To explore the efficacy of KONTAKT™, a manualised social skills group programme, compared to an active control group, 84 autistic children aged 8–12 years were randomised to KONTAKT (n = 43) or ART-Legends, a group-based social art programme (n = 41). Both programmes ran for sixteen 75-min sessions. Primary (Goal Attainment Scaling) and Secondary outcomes (Social Skills Group Assessment, LERID Friendship Scale) were collected at baseline, post-completion, 3-month (primary endpoint) and 1-year follow-up. A weekly survey was also collected to capture children’s enjoyment, motivation and social interaction anxiety while attending their group. Linear mixed modelling indicating significant effects for both groups on the primary outcome GAS (p < 0.001) over time. No Time*Group interaction was observed for GAS or any of the secondary measures at the primary endpoint, except quality of friendship (effect size = 0.67, p = 0.01). The weekly survey indicated higher enjoyment levels from attending KONTAKT compared to ART-Legends. This study found that both social group programmes helped autistic children achieve their personal social goals, with no clear advantage for KONTAKT over ART-Legends. However, KONTAKT’s specific elements were necessary for improving friendship quality. Future research can benefit from exploring and identifying the elements of a social programme supporting enjoyment and helping autistic children achieve their goals.Trial registration: (1) Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12619000994189, registered 12 July 2019, anzctr.org.au; (2) ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04024111 registered 1 December 2019, https://clinicaltrials.govLay Abstract Social skills group programmes such as KONTAKT™ are the most frequently used programmes for supporting the social needs of autistic children in navigating a non-autistic social world. The success of these programmes is largely measured by comparing participants attending a social skills group programme to others not receiving this support or attending another social skills group programme. Therefore, it is unclear whether mere exposure to a supportive social group based on interests is as beneficial as a social skills group programme in supporting the social needs of autistic children. To understand this effect, researchers compared KONTAKT to ART-Legends, a group-based social art programme. While participants in both programmes engaged in free social play, KONTAKT participants also had opportunities to practise their social skills in activities such as roleplays and discussions. Two to three health professionals delivered both programmes to groups of 4–8 autistic children aged 8–12 years. Both programmes were manualised and ran for sixteen 75-min sessions. Overall, 84 children attended the programmes, 43 in KONTAKT and 41 in ART-Legends. A researcher, unaware of the group each child attended, collected data before, then immediately, 3 months and 12 months after the programmes ended. The enjoyment and motivation of attending the groups and the children’s anxiety when socialising while attending the groups were also collected. This study found that both groups made clear progress on their personal social goals and social skills over time. However, children in the KONTAKT group showed better results than those in the ART-Legends group when it came to making friends, enjoying the sessions and feeling less anxious in social situations. Overall, this research suggested that when autistic children take part in a structured social group programme led by trained professionals in a supportive setting, the programme can help them reach their personally meaningful social goals. However, if the aim is related to improving their friendships and having more successful socialisation skills, KONTAKT is superior. Future studies could look more closely at what parts of the programme are most helpful in improving friendship and socialisation skills. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251414902 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] A double-masked randomised actively controlled trial of KONTAKT™ social skills toolbox for Australian autistic children [texte imprimé] / Bahareh AFSHARNEJAD, Auteur ; Elinda Ai Lim LEE, Auteur ; Maya HAYDEN-EVANS, Auteur ; Anna FRIDELL, Auteur ; Christina COCO, Auteur ; Tasha ALACH, Auteur ; Mathew JOHNSON, Auteur ; Sven BÖLTE, Auteur ; Sonya GIRDLER, Auteur . - p.748-766. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.748-766 Mots-clés : active control group  autistic children  double-masked randomised controlled trial  KONTAKT™  social skills group training Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : To explore the efficacy of KONTAKT™, a manualised social skills group programme, compared to an active control group, 84 autistic children aged 8–12 years were randomised to KONTAKT (n = 43) or ART-Legends, a group-based social art programme (n = 41). Both programmes ran for sixteen 75-min sessions. Primary (Goal Attainment Scaling) and Secondary outcomes (Social Skills Group Assessment, LERID Friendship Scale) were collected at baseline, post-completion, 3-month (primary endpoint) and 1-year follow-up. A weekly survey was also collected to capture children’s enjoyment, motivation and social interaction anxiety while attending their group. Linear mixed modelling indicating significant effects for both groups on the primary outcome GAS (p < 0.001) over time. No Time*Group interaction was observed for GAS or any of the secondary measures at the primary endpoint, except quality of friendship (effect size = 0.67, p = 0.01). The weekly survey indicated higher enjoyment levels from attending KONTAKT compared to ART-Legends. This study found that both social group programmes helped autistic children achieve their personal social goals, with no clear advantage for KONTAKT over ART-Legends. However, KONTAKT’s specific elements were necessary for improving friendship quality. Future research can benefit from exploring and identifying the elements of a social programme supporting enjoyment and helping autistic children achieve their goals.Trial registration: (1) Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12619000994189, registered 12 July 2019, anzctr.org.au; (2) ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04024111 registered 1 December 2019, https://clinicaltrials.govLay Abstract Social skills group programmes such as KONTAKT™ are the most frequently used programmes for supporting the social needs of autistic children in navigating a non-autistic social world. The success of these programmes is largely measured by comparing participants attending a social skills group programme to others not receiving this support or attending another social skills group programme. Therefore, it is unclear whether mere exposure to a supportive social group based on interests is as beneficial as a social skills group programme in supporting the social needs of autistic children. To understand this effect, researchers compared KONTAKT to ART-Legends, a group-based social art programme. While participants in both programmes engaged in free social play, KONTAKT participants also had opportunities to practise their social skills in activities such as roleplays and discussions. Two to three health professionals delivered both programmes to groups of 4–8 autistic children aged 8–12 years. Both programmes were manualised and ran for sixteen 75-min sessions. Overall, 84 children attended the programmes, 43 in KONTAKT and 41 in ART-Legends. A researcher, unaware of the group each child attended, collected data before, then immediately, 3 months and 12 months after the programmes ended. The enjoyment and motivation of attending the groups and the children’s anxiety when socialising while attending the groups were also collected. This study found that both groups made clear progress on their personal social goals and social skills over time. However, children in the KONTAKT group showed better results than those in the ART-Legends group when it came to making friends, enjoying the sessions and feeling less anxious in social situations. Overall, this research suggested that when autistic children take part in a structured social group programme led by trained professionals in a supportive setting, the programme can help them reach their personally meaningful social goals. However, if the aim is related to improving their friendships and having more successful socialisation skills, KONTAKT is superior. Future studies could look more closely at what parts of the programme are most helpful in improving friendship and socialisation skills. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251414902 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Sleep and activity patterns in autism / J. Dylan WEISSENKAMPEN in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.767-787 Titre : Sleep and activity patterns in autism Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : J. Dylan WEISSENKAMPEN, Auteur ; Arpita GHORAI, Auteur ; Thaise N.R. CARNEIRO, Auteur ; Maria FASOLINO, Auteur ; Brielle N. GEHRINGER, Auteur ; Maya RAJAN, Auteur ; Holly C. DOW, Auteur ; Shriya KUNATHARAJU, Auteur ; Till ROENNEBERG, Auteur ; Ronnie SEBRO, Auteur ; Daniel J. RADER, Auteur ; Brendan T. KEENAN, Auteur ; Laura ALMASY, Auteur ; Edward S. BRODKIN, Auteur ; Maja BUČAN, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.767-787 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : actimetry  autism  circadian behavior  physical activity  sleep Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autism is a heritable neurodevelopmental condition marked by impaired social interaction, repetitive behavior, and co-occurring conditions. Sleep disturbances are common in autism. This study uses low-cost wearable devices to compare sleep, physical activity, and circadian behavior in autistic adults and their non-autistic relatives. We recruited 318 autistic individuals and 130 family members, collecting accelerometer data over 3 weeks (8249 days). Using a data-driven approach, we identified actimetry-derived features associated with autism. We examined 308 traits using the elastic net algorithm and linear mixed effects regressions. We identified 52 actimetry measures associated with autism (area under the curve: 0.812; confidence interval: 0.761–0.862), validated in a test set (area under the curve: 0.756; confidence interval: 0.700–0.813). Both mean and day-to-day variability in several measures (e.g., time spent sedentary, total light physical activity) were associated with autism. In autistic individuals, reduced physical activity during wake was more strongly associated with shorter sleep time than in non-autistic relatives (likelihood ratio: 41.6; p = 1.13e−10). Reduced physical activity in autistic individuals was linked to increased social impairment, as measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale. Long inactivity periods and lower physical activity levels were associated with autism, correlating with less sleep and later sleep onset. Interventional studies are needed to explore if improving sleep and physical activity can improve the quality of life for autistic individuals.Lay Abstract Autistic individuals frequently report problems with their sleep, though what aspects of sleep are most affected is not well understood. In this study, we recruited 318 adult autistic participants without intellectual disability and 130 of their non-autistic family members to measure their sleep, physical activity, and daily routines. Study participants wore accelerometer-based wrist-worn devices over 3 consecutive weeks to record their movement and activity. In total, 154 distinct physical activity, sleep, and behavioral traits were identified from the recordings, 52 of which were found to associate with autism. Many of these traits were related to physical activity, where autistic individuals were more likely to be less active for longer periods and have lower overall physical activity levels. Long periods of inactivity also associated with less sleep, with a stronger association in those with autism. For example, for every hour of inactivity, autistic participants had on average ~23 min less of sleep compared to ~17 min in their family members. Autistic individuals with lower levels of physical activity showed higher social impairment as measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale. Overall, lower physical activity may impair sleep and worsen the core features of autism. Interventional studies aimed to increase physical activity may improve the quality of life of autistic individuals. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251413538 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Sleep and activity patterns in autism [texte imprimé] / J. Dylan WEISSENKAMPEN, Auteur ; Arpita GHORAI, Auteur ; Thaise N.R. CARNEIRO, Auteur ; Maria FASOLINO, Auteur ; Brielle N. GEHRINGER, Auteur ; Maya RAJAN, Auteur ; Holly C. DOW, Auteur ; Shriya KUNATHARAJU, Auteur ; Till ROENNEBERG, Auteur ; Ronnie SEBRO, Auteur ; Daniel J. RADER, Auteur ; Brendan T. KEENAN, Auteur ; Laura ALMASY, Auteur ; Edward S. BRODKIN, Auteur ; Maja BUČAN, Auteur . - p.767-787. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.767-787 Mots-clés : actimetry  autism  circadian behavior  physical activity  sleep Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autism is a heritable neurodevelopmental condition marked by impaired social interaction, repetitive behavior, and co-occurring conditions. Sleep disturbances are common in autism. This study uses low-cost wearable devices to compare sleep, physical activity, and circadian behavior in autistic adults and their non-autistic relatives. We recruited 318 autistic individuals and 130 family members, collecting accelerometer data over 3 weeks (8249 days). Using a data-driven approach, we identified actimetry-derived features associated with autism. We examined 308 traits using the elastic net algorithm and linear mixed effects regressions. We identified 52 actimetry measures associated with autism (area under the curve: 0.812; confidence interval: 0.761–0.862), validated in a test set (area under the curve: 0.756; confidence interval: 0.700–0.813). Both mean and day-to-day variability in several measures (e.g., time spent sedentary, total light physical activity) were associated with autism. In autistic individuals, reduced physical activity during wake was more strongly associated with shorter sleep time than in non-autistic relatives (likelihood ratio: 41.6; p = 1.13e−10). Reduced physical activity in autistic individuals was linked to increased social impairment, as measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale. Long inactivity periods and lower physical activity levels were associated with autism, correlating with less sleep and later sleep onset. Interventional studies are needed to explore if improving sleep and physical activity can improve the quality of life for autistic individuals.Lay Abstract Autistic individuals frequently report problems with their sleep, though what aspects of sleep are most affected is not well understood. In this study, we recruited 318 adult autistic participants without intellectual disability and 130 of their non-autistic family members to measure their sleep, physical activity, and daily routines. Study participants wore accelerometer-based wrist-worn devices over 3 consecutive weeks to record their movement and activity. In total, 154 distinct physical activity, sleep, and behavioral traits were identified from the recordings, 52 of which were found to associate with autism. Many of these traits were related to physical activity, where autistic individuals were more likely to be less active for longer periods and have lower overall physical activity levels. Long periods of inactivity also associated with less sleep, with a stronger association in those with autism. For example, for every hour of inactivity, autistic participants had on average ~23 min less of sleep compared to ~17 min in their family members. Autistic individuals with lower levels of physical activity showed higher social impairment as measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale. Overall, lower physical activity may impair sleep and worsen the core features of autism. Interventional studies aimed to increase physical activity may improve the quality of life of autistic individuals. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251413538 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Patterns of interparental conflict and psychological distress among Australian mothers of autistic children / Alexis KANAT in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.788-800 Titre : Patterns of interparental conflict and psychological distress among Australian mothers of autistic children Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Alexis KANAT, Auteur ; Grace MCMAHON, Auteur ; Alison FOGARTY, Auteur ; Rebecca GIALLO, Auteur ; Monique SEYMOUR, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.788-800 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism spectrum  interparental conflict  mental health  mothers Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Mothers of autistic children often face unique emotional and financial challenges, contributing to heightened stress, poorer mental health and increased interparental conflict. This study examined interparental conflict over a 10-year period (child ages 4–14 years) among mothers of autistic children. The objectives were to: (1) compare interparental conflict levels between mothers of autistic and non-autistic children; (2) identify distinct interparental conflict trajectories among mothers of autistic children; and (3) examine the relationship between interparental conflict trajectories and mothers’ psychological distress when their children were age 14 years. Data were drawn from six waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. There were 333 mothers of autistic children and 8145 mothers of non-autistic children. Mothers of autistic children reported significantly greater interparental conflict than mothers of non-autistic children, peaking at child ages 4–5 years. Two interparental conflict trajectories were identified for mothers of autistic children: consistently low and persistently elevated, with the latter associated with greater psychological distress. These results highlight the importance of tailored support for mothers of autistic children to reduce interparental conflict and improve maternal well-being, ultimately strengthening overall family functioning.Lay Abstract Mothers raising autistic children often deal with more emotional and financial stress than mothers of non-autistic children, which can lead to more frequent interparental conflict. This study looked at how interparental conflict changed over 10 years, from when children were 4 to 14 years old. Researchers analysed data from a large, longitudinal Australian study of children. They compared two groups: 333 mothers of autistic children and 8145 mothers of non-autistic children. The study aimed to: (1) examine differences in interparental conflict between the two groups, (2) identify distinct patterns of interparental conflict among mothers of autistic children and (3) explore how these patterns related to mothers’ psychological distress when their children were 14 years old. Mothers of autistic children experienced more interparental conflict than mothers of non-autistic children, particularly when their children were 4 to 5 years old. Two distinct interparental conflict patterns emerged among mothers of autistic children: one group experienced consistently low interparental conflict, while the other reported persistently elevated interparental conflict. Mothers in the persistently elevated interparental conflict group also reported greater psychological distress compared to those in the consistently low interparental conflict group. These results highlight the need for more personalised support for mothers of autistic children to help reduce interparental conflict and improve maternal well-being. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251412202 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Patterns of interparental conflict and psychological distress among Australian mothers of autistic children [texte imprimé] / Alexis KANAT, Auteur ; Grace MCMAHON, Auteur ; Alison FOGARTY, Auteur ; Rebecca GIALLO, Auteur ; Monique SEYMOUR, Auteur . - p.788-800. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.788-800 Mots-clés : autism spectrum  interparental conflict  mental health  mothers Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Mothers of autistic children often face unique emotional and financial challenges, contributing to heightened stress, poorer mental health and increased interparental conflict. This study examined interparental conflict over a 10-year period (child ages 4–14 years) among mothers of autistic children. The objectives were to: (1) compare interparental conflict levels between mothers of autistic and non-autistic children; (2) identify distinct interparental conflict trajectories among mothers of autistic children; and (3) examine the relationship between interparental conflict trajectories and mothers’ psychological distress when their children were age 14 years. Data were drawn from six waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. There were 333 mothers of autistic children and 8145 mothers of non-autistic children. Mothers of autistic children reported significantly greater interparental conflict than mothers of non-autistic children, peaking at child ages 4–5 years. Two interparental conflict trajectories were identified for mothers of autistic children: consistently low and persistently elevated, with the latter associated with greater psychological distress. These results highlight the importance of tailored support for mothers of autistic children to reduce interparental conflict and improve maternal well-being, ultimately strengthening overall family functioning.Lay Abstract Mothers raising autistic children often deal with more emotional and financial stress than mothers of non-autistic children, which can lead to more frequent interparental conflict. This study looked at how interparental conflict changed over 10 years, from when children were 4 to 14 years old. Researchers analysed data from a large, longitudinal Australian study of children. They compared two groups: 333 mothers of autistic children and 8145 mothers of non-autistic children. The study aimed to: (1) examine differences in interparental conflict between the two groups, (2) identify distinct patterns of interparental conflict among mothers of autistic children and (3) explore how these patterns related to mothers’ psychological distress when their children were 14 years old. Mothers of autistic children experienced more interparental conflict than mothers of non-autistic children, particularly when their children were 4 to 5 years old. Two distinct interparental conflict patterns emerged among mothers of autistic children: one group experienced consistently low interparental conflict, while the other reported persistently elevated interparental conflict. Mothers in the persistently elevated interparental conflict group also reported greater psychological distress compared to those in the consistently low interparental conflict group. These results highlight the need for more personalised support for mothers of autistic children to help reduce interparental conflict and improve maternal well-being. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251412202 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

‘It’s not fair, this isn’t what an autistic person should go through’: Experiences of autistic adults on inpatient mental health wards / Rhiannon WILLIAMS in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.801-811 Titre : ‘It’s not fair, this isn’t what an autistic person should go through’: Experiences of autistic adults on inpatient mental health wards Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Rhiannon WILLIAMS, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.801-811 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : adults  autism  mental health  qualitative research  quality of life  thematic analysis Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : When an autistic person requires inpatient mental health support, they should be supported in mainstream services with reasonable adjustments. However, there is a lack of research into how autistic service users find their admissions to mental health wards. Ten United Kingdom-based autistic adults took part in semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences of being a mental health inpatient. These results were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) and four themes were developed: ‘I’m not mental health, I’m not autism, I’m just me’, ‘All the noise. All the people. All the unpredictability’, ‘You work out how to survive’, and ‘It’s the usual set up, all the decisions had been made’. Results highlighted a negative overall appraisal of inpatient admissions, with specific difficulties in a lack of nuanced autism understanding, sensory environments, unpredictability and a felt sense of powerlessness. Findings indicate further autism training is required for staff working on inpatient wards, as well as changes to sensory environments that could benefit neurodivergent populations. These changes should detail how to put in place reasonable adjustments throughout a person’s admission. Decisions around these factors should be made in collaboration with experts-by-experience to ensure effective intervention.Lay Abstract At times, autistic adults who experience mental health difficulties may need to be supported in inpatient mental health care to manage risks to themselves and others. When this is the case, these adults should be able to access mainstream mental health services, and those supporting them should put in place reasonable adjustments to support their autistic needs. The researcher interviewed 10 UK-based autistic adults who had spent time in NHS England inpatient mental health wards to find out about their experiences. All participants found their time on mental health wards difficult, and there were some common reasons for this, including: autism needs not being recognised or understood, the environment of the ward not fitting their needs, and feeling as though they had no power to make changes in their care. This suggests that changes need to be made to how inpatient mental health care is delivered to autistic service users. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251412722 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] ‘It’s not fair, this isn’t what an autistic person should go through’: Experiences of autistic adults on inpatient mental health wards [texte imprimé] / Rhiannon WILLIAMS, Auteur . - p.801-811. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.801-811 Mots-clés : adults  autism  mental health  qualitative research  quality of life  thematic analysis Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : When an autistic person requires inpatient mental health support, they should be supported in mainstream services with reasonable adjustments. However, there is a lack of research into how autistic service users find their admissions to mental health wards. Ten United Kingdom-based autistic adults took part in semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences of being a mental health inpatient. These results were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) and four themes were developed: ‘I’m not mental health, I’m not autism, I’m just me’, ‘All the noise. All the people. All the unpredictability’, ‘You work out how to survive’, and ‘It’s the usual set up, all the decisions had been made’. Results highlighted a negative overall appraisal of inpatient admissions, with specific difficulties in a lack of nuanced autism understanding, sensory environments, unpredictability and a felt sense of powerlessness. Findings indicate further autism training is required for staff working on inpatient wards, as well as changes to sensory environments that could benefit neurodivergent populations. These changes should detail how to put in place reasonable adjustments throughout a person’s admission. Decisions around these factors should be made in collaboration with experts-by-experience to ensure effective intervention.Lay Abstract At times, autistic adults who experience mental health difficulties may need to be supported in inpatient mental health care to manage risks to themselves and others. When this is the case, these adults should be able to access mainstream mental health services, and those supporting them should put in place reasonable adjustments to support their autistic needs. The researcher interviewed 10 UK-based autistic adults who had spent time in NHS England inpatient mental health wards to find out about their experiences. All participants found their time on mental health wards difficult, and there were some common reasons for this, including: autism needs not being recognised or understood, the environment of the ward not fitting their needs, and feeling as though they had no power to make changes in their care. This suggests that changes need to be made to how inpatient mental health care is delivered to autistic service users. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251412722 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Eliciting the views of autistic adolescents attending specialist schools on what friendships mean to them / Jo HALSALL in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.812-827 Titre : Eliciting the views of autistic adolescents attending specialist schools on what friendships mean to them Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Jo HALSALL, Auteur ; Elise ROBINSON, Auteur ; Anna COOK, Auteur ; Adam HALSALL, Auteur ; Laura CRANE, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.812-827 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism  friendship  special educational needs  specialist schools Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Friendship has been identified as an important way to support autistic adolescents’ social, emotional and cognitive development. However, research examining autistic adolescents’ friendships has tended to use methodologies inaccessible to children with complex communication and learning needs. We examined the friendship experiences of 12 autistic adolescents (aged 12–15 years) with complex communication and learning needs who attended a specialist school. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified two themes. Within the first theme of ‘reconceptualising friendship’, the adolescents identified friends who evoked strong emotions and connection, without distinguishing between positive or negative interactions, or the standard boundaries of friendship. ‘Friendships’ with adults were also highlighted. Within the second theme of ‘the context dependent nature of connection’, the adolescents’ descriptions of friendship communicated a preference for engagement via physical play in spaces that facilitated such interaction. Our findings underscore the importance of directly eliciting the views of autistic adolescents with complex communication and learning needs. They also highlight the value of facilitating opportunities to build social connection with peers and adults through physical play and activities that provoke strong emotions within a safe and contained context.Lay abstract Friendship plays a key role in helping autistic young people develop: socially, emotionally and cognitively. However, much of the research on friendships among autistic children and young people has overlooked those with complex communication and learning needs, using methods that are not accessible to them. As a result, their views on friendship have often been underreported. We investigated the friendship experiences of 12 autistic adolescents, aged between 12 and 15 years, who have complex communication and learning needs and attend a specialist school. By using methods that were adapted including visual resources, the children were able to share their views on friendship. Our two main findings were (1) children identified friends who evoked strong emotions and connection, without distinguishing between positive and negative interactions or the standard boundaries of friendship; and (2) children’s descriptions of friendship communicated a preference for physical play in spaces that facilitated this. They also identified the need for space within structured settings. Our research gave the children the opportunity to identify their friends and express their preferences, offering important insights for future studies. These results highlight the value of supporting autistic children to build social connections by providing opportunities for active play and exploration of strong emotions within safe and familiar settings. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251414302 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Eliciting the views of autistic adolescents attending specialist schools on what friendships mean to them [texte imprimé] / Jo HALSALL, Auteur ; Elise ROBINSON, Auteur ; Anna COOK, Auteur ; Adam HALSALL, Auteur ; Laura CRANE, Auteur . - p.812-827. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.812-827 Mots-clés : autism  friendship  special educational needs  specialist schools Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Friendship has been identified as an important way to support autistic adolescents’ social, emotional and cognitive development. However, research examining autistic adolescents’ friendships has tended to use methodologies inaccessible to children with complex communication and learning needs. We examined the friendship experiences of 12 autistic adolescents (aged 12–15 years) with complex communication and learning needs who attended a specialist school. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified two themes. Within the first theme of ‘reconceptualising friendship’, the adolescents identified friends who evoked strong emotions and connection, without distinguishing between positive or negative interactions, or the standard boundaries of friendship. ‘Friendships’ with adults were also highlighted. Within the second theme of ‘the context dependent nature of connection’, the adolescents’ descriptions of friendship communicated a preference for engagement via physical play in spaces that facilitated such interaction. Our findings underscore the importance of directly eliciting the views of autistic adolescents with complex communication and learning needs. They also highlight the value of facilitating opportunities to build social connection with peers and adults through physical play and activities that provoke strong emotions within a safe and contained context.Lay abstract Friendship plays a key role in helping autistic young people develop: socially, emotionally and cognitively. However, much of the research on friendships among autistic children and young people has overlooked those with complex communication and learning needs, using methods that are not accessible to them. As a result, their views on friendship have often been underreported. We investigated the friendship experiences of 12 autistic adolescents, aged between 12 and 15 years, who have complex communication and learning needs and attend a specialist school. By using methods that were adapted including visual resources, the children were able to share their views on friendship. Our two main findings were (1) children identified friends who evoked strong emotions and connection, without distinguishing between positive and negative interactions or the standard boundaries of friendship; and (2) children’s descriptions of friendship communicated a preference for physical play in spaces that facilitated this. They also identified the need for space within structured settings. Our research gave the children the opportunity to identify their friends and express their preferences, offering important insights for future studies. These results highlight the value of supporting autistic children to build social connections by providing opportunities for active play and exploration of strong emotions within safe and familiar settings. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251414302 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Thinking flexibly: A cognitive remediation therapy–informed intervention for autistic youth / Jasmin DIPRE in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.828-833 Titre : Thinking flexibly: A cognitive remediation therapy–informed intervention for autistic youth Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Jasmin DIPRE, Auteur ; Lauren BURTON, Auteur ; Kate TCHANTURIA, Auteur ; Matthew J. HOLLOCKS, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.828-833 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : anxiety  autism spectrum disorder  depression  executive functions  treatment Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autistic people are known to demonstrate greater difficulties with cognitive flexibility. These difficulties are associated with a range of poor outcomes, including elevated rates of anxiety and depression. Current intervention approaches fail to account for these specific mechanisms. In this study, we address this by piloting a new intervention which aims to specifically target cognitive inflexibility. The ‘Thinking Flexibly’ intervention has been co-designed with autistic youth based on previous work, including cognitive remediation therapy. Twenty autistic adolescents were recruited from clinical services and offered the eight-session intervention. Acceptability was assessed through participant drop-out and session completion. Participants (and their parents) also completed questionnaire measures of cognitive inflexibility, anxiety, depression and functional outcomes before and after the intervention. Our results indicated good acceptability with 19/20 participants completing the intervention and session attendance was high, with a single missed session. We found significant increases in flexibility across both parent- and self-report of a moderate effect. Participants reported significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression. We conclude that ‘Thinking Flexibly’ is acceptable for use with autistic adolescents and shows promise as a standalone or adjunct therapy. Changes on outcome measures are promising and warrant further investigation in a larger trial.Lay abstract Autistic people often have greater difficulties with flexible thinking when compared to those without autism. People with difficulties in this area often appear to be ‘stuck’ in their style of thinking or in their way of behaving. This can have a negative impact on several areas of life, including on their mental health. In this study, we developed and tested an intervention designed to help autistic individual think flexibly. We showed that the intervention was acceptable (people were able to attend and complete the intervention) and some improvements in cognitive flexibility and mental health symptoms were reported. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251407294 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Thinking flexibly: A cognitive remediation therapy–informed intervention for autistic youth [texte imprimé] / Jasmin DIPRE, Auteur ; Lauren BURTON, Auteur ; Kate TCHANTURIA, Auteur ; Matthew J. HOLLOCKS, Auteur . - p.828-833. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.828-833 Mots-clés : anxiety  autism spectrum disorder  depression  executive functions  treatment Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autistic people are known to demonstrate greater difficulties with cognitive flexibility. These difficulties are associated with a range of poor outcomes, including elevated rates of anxiety and depression. Current intervention approaches fail to account for these specific mechanisms. In this study, we address this by piloting a new intervention which aims to specifically target cognitive inflexibility. The ‘Thinking Flexibly’ intervention has been co-designed with autistic youth based on previous work, including cognitive remediation therapy. Twenty autistic adolescents were recruited from clinical services and offered the eight-session intervention. Acceptability was assessed through participant drop-out and session completion. Participants (and their parents) also completed questionnaire measures of cognitive inflexibility, anxiety, depression and functional outcomes before and after the intervention. Our results indicated good acceptability with 19/20 participants completing the intervention and session attendance was high, with a single missed session. We found significant increases in flexibility across both parent- and self-report of a moderate effect. Participants reported significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression. We conclude that ‘Thinking Flexibly’ is acceptable for use with autistic adolescents and shows promise as a standalone or adjunct therapy. Changes on outcome measures are promising and warrant further investigation in a larger trial.Lay abstract Autistic people often have greater difficulties with flexible thinking when compared to those without autism. People with difficulties in this area often appear to be ‘stuck’ in their style of thinking or in their way of behaving. This can have a negative impact on several areas of life, including on their mental health. In this study, we developed and tested an intervention designed to help autistic individual think flexibly. We showed that the intervention was acceptable (people were able to attend and complete the intervention) and some improvements in cognitive flexibility and mental health symptoms were reported. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251407294 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582

Distinguishing midlife and old age: A recommendation for autism researchers / Gavin R. STEWART in Autism, 30-3 (March 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.834-836 Titre : Distinguishing midlife and old age: A recommendation for autism researchers Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Gavin R. STEWART, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.834-836 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism  midlife  old age Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Research on ageing in autism has sharply increased following a number of influential publications that highlighted the lack of knowledge in this area. However, much of the research on autism ageing has inadvertently treated all people aged over 50 as a homogeneous ‘older adult’ group, overlooking important distinctions between midlife (40–64 years) and old age (65+ years). Midlife is marked by complex role management, career pressures, health changes and identity development, while old age often involves retirement, shifts in priorities, physical and cognitive changes, and planning for less independent living. Recognising midlife and old age as distinct life phases is essential to accurately characterise the lived experiences and needs of autistic adults across the latter part of the lifespan. This letter makes conceptual and methodological suggestions that autism researchers should align with established ageing frameworks by labelling samples accurately, using appropriate keywords and, where possible, stratifying analyses by age subgroup. Doing so will enhance research accuracy, improve indexing and increase clinical relevance. This shift is vital for advancing autism ageing research and ensuring findings reflect the diverse experiences of autistic adults throughout later life.Lay Abstract Research on autism and ageing has increased a lot in recent years. However, many studies group everyone over the age of 50 as part of the same ‘older adult’ group. This overlooks the fact that people in midlife (ages 40–64) and those in old age (65 and older) often face very different experiences, challenges and opportunities. Recognising that midlife and old age are separate stages of life is important for understanding what autistic adults go through as they age. This letter encourages autism researchers to be more specific when describing age groups in their studies. By doing this, research on autism and ageing will be more accurate, easier to find and more useful for researchers, healthcare professionals and autistic people alike. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251396316 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582 [article] Distinguishing midlife and old age: A recommendation for autism researchers [texte imprimé] / Gavin R. STEWART, Auteur . - p.834-836. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-3 (March 2026) . - p.834-836 Mots-clés : autism  midlife  old age Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Research on ageing in autism has sharply increased following a number of influential publications that highlighted the lack of knowledge in this area. However, much of the research on autism ageing has inadvertently treated all people aged over 50 as a homogeneous ‘older adult’ group, overlooking important distinctions between midlife (40–64 years) and old age (65+ years). Midlife is marked by complex role management, career pressures, health changes and identity development, while old age often involves retirement, shifts in priorities, physical and cognitive changes, and planning for less independent living. Recognising midlife and old age as distinct life phases is essential to accurately characterise the lived experiences and needs of autistic adults across the latter part of the lifespan. This letter makes conceptual and methodological suggestions that autism researchers should align with established ageing frameworks by labelling samples accurately, using appropriate keywords and, where possible, stratifying analyses by age subgroup. Doing so will enhance research accuracy, improve indexing and increase clinical relevance. This shift is vital for advancing autism ageing research and ensuring findings reflect the diverse experiences of autistic adults throughout later life.Lay Abstract Research on autism and ageing has increased a lot in recent years. However, many studies group everyone over the age of 50 as part of the same ‘older adult’ group. This overlooks the fact that people in midlife (ages 40–64) and those in old age (65 and older) often face very different experiences, challenges and opportunities. Recognising that midlife and old age are separate stages of life is important for understanding what autistic adults go through as they age. This letter encourages autism researchers to be more specific when describing age groups in their studies. By doing this, research on autism and ageing will be more accurate, easier to find and more useful for researchers, healthcare professionals and autistic people alike. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613251396316 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=582