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Journal article
Setbacks and Successes: How Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum Seek Friendship
Autism in adulthood, v 1(1)
01 Mar 2019
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Objective:
To describe the perspectives of young adults on the autism spectrum about how they seek and make friends and explore the diverse ways that some develop satisfying friendships despite social difficulties.
Methods:
We conducted semistructured interviews with 20 young adults on the autism spectrum about their lives after high school. Although interviews covered a broad range of topics related to transition, the subject of friendship came up frequently throughout the interviews. We extracted data specifically related to friendship for this article and used an inductive approach derived from grounded theory to identify and examine concepts.
Results:
Participants had the most success in relationships in which their atypical behavior was normalized. Specifically, this occurred among friends who accepted and appreciated their social differences and through common interests where these differences were not a concern. In other relationships, participants felt that they were expected to adhere to social norms, but found it uncomfortable and/or were not sure how to act in some contexts. Therefore, finding friends who did not expect this was a welcome relief. Participants who were socially isolated wanted more opportunities to meet other people, such as organized social groups, but were not sure how to access these.
Conclusion:
Results suggest that friendship, although challenging, can be navigated successfully for some young adults on the autism spectrum. These findings have implications for supporting young adults in their efforts to make friends in ways that work best for them and for creating measures that more accurately reflect their perspectives and needs. Reframing the concept of friendship to include a wider array of experiences and perspectives, identifying successful strategies, and creating more accurate assessments could present a very different picture of friendship and contribute to better outcomes for this unique population.
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Details
- Title
- Setbacks and Successes: How Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum Seek Friendship
- Creators
- Collette Sosnowy - 1A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaChloe Silverman - Drexel UniversityPaul Shattuck - Drexel UniversityTamara Garfield - 1A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Publication Details
- Autism in adulthood, v 1(1)
- Publisher
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Politics; A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000751171100008
- Other Identifier
- 991019169626004721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychology, Developmental
- Rehabilitation