Understanding the societal barriers experienced by autistic adults

About the Project

Research demonstrates that the mental and physical health of autistic adults is significantly poorer than for non-autistic adults (Bishop-Fitzpatrick & Rubenstein, 2019; Cage, 2018). Life expectancy is also shockingly low for autistic adults (Smith DaWalt et al. 2019; Hirvikoski et al. 2016). The way an individual is treated by others, including by society at large, can have a fundamental impact on wellbeing (Cooper et al. 2004). Autism stereotypes can often portray autistic people in a negative way. The result of this can have negative consequences for autistic people (Treweek et al. 2019). This PhD project will involve mixed-methods, the overall aim of which will be to better understand the societal barriers experienced by autistic adults. Certain questions will be most appropriately answered using a qualitative methodology, such as Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, in order to understand the lived experience of being autistic in today’s society. Other questions may be most appropriately answered using large-scale surveys or quantitative analyses of low-level interventions targeted at reducing barriers created by broader society.

Funding Notes

Self funded or externally sponsored students only. Intakes are usually October and March annually.
NB The University has some scholarships under competition each year. More details can be found -
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References

Bishop-Fitzpatrick, L., & Rubenstein, E. (2019). The physical and mental health of middle aged and older adults on the autism spectrum and the impact of intellectual disability. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 63, 34-41.
Cooper, C. L., Hoel, H., & Faragher, B. (2004). Bullying is detrimental to health, but all bullying behaviours are not necessarily equally damaging. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 32(3), 367-387.
Hirvikoski, T., Mittendorfer-Rutz, E., Boman, M., Larsson, H., Lichtenstein, P., & Bölte, S. (2016). Premature mortality in autism spectrum disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 208(3), 232-238.
Leedham, A., Thompson, A., Smith, R., & Freeth, M. (in press). "I was exhausted trying to figure it out." The experiences of females receiving a diagnosis on the autism spectrum in middle to late adulthood. Autism.
Smith DaWalt, L., Hong, J., Greenberg, J. S., & Mailick, M. R. (2019). Mortality in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: predictors over a 20-year period. Autism, 1362361319827412.
Treweek, C., Wood, C., Martin, J., & Freeth, M. (2019). Autistic people’s perspectives on stereotypes: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Autism 23(3), 759-769.