Journal article
Preferences for Identity-First and Person-First Language: A Systematic Review of Research With Autistic Adults/Adults With Autism
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, PMID 7904301
13 Dec 2025
PMID: 41389164
Featured in Collection : Drexel's Newest Publications
Abstract
Recommendations concerning the language used to describe autism center primarily around preferences for person-first language (PFL; e.g., person with autism) or identity-first language (IFL; e.g.., autistic person). Empirical research on this topic has recently proliferated, yet there is no clear consensus. In this study, we systematically reviewed prior research on the autistic community's language preferences.
Our search generated 2483 articles. Nineteen studies (N = 6350) quantitatively assessed autistic people's perspectives of autism language terms. We extracted data regarding most preferred terms and terms deemed acceptable for use.
All studies were conducted online. Fourteen assessed preferred terminology; 10 found that more participants preferred IFL than PFL, though there was also considerable PFL endorsement (4-39% of participants) in these studies. Two studies that found a preference for PFL over IFL were conducted in Dutch. When able to choose "no preference/either" (6 studies), 4-37% of participants chose this option. Seven studies assessed acceptable terms; IFL terms were endorsed as acceptable by ~ 40-97% of participants, PFL terms by 5-53%, and "on the spectrum" by 8-45%. Across studies, participants were not representative of the entire autism spectrum (e.g., likely few participants with intellectual disability).
Study results vary widely and suggest no consensus as to whether individuals with autism prefer IFL or PFL, neither across nor necessarily even within cultures and languages. We present several considerations for members of the autism community (e.g., researchers, clinicians, etc.) regarding use of PFL and IFL, with the ultimate goal of ensuring individual preferences are respected.
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Details
- Title
- Preferences for Identity-First and Person-First Language: A Systematic Review of Research With Autistic Adults/Adults With Autism
- Creators
- Rachel K Schuck - Stanford UniversityLacey Chetcuti - Stanford UniversityPatrick Dwyer - La Trobe UniversityKatarina Milosavljevic - Touro CollegeSimon M Bury - La Trobe UniversityDarren Hedley - Deakin UniversitySander Begeer - Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamGiacomo Vivanti - Drexel UniversityMirko Uljarevic - Stanford University
- Publication Details
- Journal of autism and developmental disorders, PMID 7904301
- Publisher
- SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS; NEW YORK
- Number of pages
- 15
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001638821800001
- Other Identifier
- 991022145522104721