“Neurodivergent people just get each other”: Navigating friendship and community in the transition to adulthood for autistic adults / Samara M. Wolpe in Research in Autism, 128 (October 2025)  

Public ISBD [article]  inResearch in Autism > 128 (October 2025) . - p.202692 Titre : “Neurodivergent people just get each other”: Navigating friendship and community in the transition to adulthood for autistic adults Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Samara M. Wolpe, Auteur ; Ingrid S. Tien, Auteur ; Maxwell N. LEE, Auteur ; Sila SOZERI, Auteur ; Iman M. HUMPHREY, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.202692 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Autism  Social Experiences  Friendships  Romantic Relationships  Adulthood  Community Partnered Research  Neurodiversity Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Purpose Quality friendships are integral to wellbeing for many autistic adults. However, the prevalence of loneliness is felt by many in the autistic community. The current study examines autistic adults’ social experiences in navigating friendships throughout early adulthood through a series of semi-structured interviews. Methods Seventeen autistic adults were interviewed on the subject of transitioning to adulthood. Themes related to friendships and relationships were analyzed. Data analyses followed the guidelines for reflexive thematic analysis proposed by Braun and Clarke (2024a;b). Results Participants recalled Forging Friendships, discomfort around stereotypes of autism, and gaining confidence in engaging in self-soothing behaviors. When creating friendships, participants experienced Sensory Overwhelm and struggled to explain their compensatory behaviors. As their friendships became closer, participants described Unmasking/Vulnerability as their friends got to know their authentic selves. When Creating Boundaries, participants recalled difficulties navigating sexual and romantic contact, difficulty discerning others’ motives, and struggles with realizing their own discomfort. Participants discussed Disclosure of their autistic identity, and Finding Community with other autistic individuals. Conclusion The findings from this study help to inform the field’s understanding of the social experiences of autistic adults, as well as ways in which future intervention design and services can support autistic adults developing meaningful, lasting relationships throughout their lives. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reia.2025.202692 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=570 [article] “Neurodivergent people just get each other”: Navigating friendship and community in the transition to adulthood for autistic adults [texte imprimé] / Samara M. Wolpe, Auteur ; Ingrid S. Tien, Auteur ; Maxwell N. LEE, Auteur ; Sila SOZERI, Auteur ; Iman M. HUMPHREY, Auteur . - p.202692. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Research in Autism > 128 (October 2025) . - p.202692 Mots-clés : Autism  Social Experiences  Friendships  Romantic Relationships  Adulthood  Community Partnered Research  Neurodiversity Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Purpose Quality friendships are integral to wellbeing for many autistic adults. However, the prevalence of loneliness is felt by many in the autistic community. The current study examines autistic adults’ social experiences in navigating friendships throughout early adulthood through a series of semi-structured interviews. Methods Seventeen autistic adults were interviewed on the subject of transitioning to adulthood. Themes related to friendships and relationships were analyzed. Data analyses followed the guidelines for reflexive thematic analysis proposed by Braun and Clarke (2024a;b). Results Participants recalled Forging Friendships, discomfort around stereotypes of autism, and gaining confidence in engaging in self-soothing behaviors. When creating friendships, participants experienced Sensory Overwhelm and struggled to explain their compensatory behaviors. As their friendships became closer, participants described Unmasking/Vulnerability as their friends got to know their authentic selves. When Creating Boundaries, participants recalled difficulties navigating sexual and romantic contact, difficulty discerning others’ motives, and struggles with realizing their own discomfort. Participants discussed Disclosure of their autistic identity, and Finding Community with other autistic individuals. Conclusion The findings from this study help to inform the field’s understanding of the social experiences of autistic adults, as well as ways in which future intervention design and services can support autistic adults developing meaningful, lasting relationships throughout their lives. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reia.2025.202692 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=570

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