Making Sense? How do young adults with autism make sense of behaviour problems and emotional difficulties?

Background and objectives Co-occurring emotional or behavioural difficulties can have greater impact on the lives of autistic people and their families than the ‘core characteristics’ of autism. However, little is... [ view full abstract ]

Background and objectives
Co-occurring emotional or behavioural difficulties can have greater impact on the lives of autistic people and their families than the ‘core characteristics’ of autism. However, little is understood about how young adults and parents make sense of emotional or behaviour problems within the context of an autism diagnosis. This paper presents findings from a study that aims to capture how these groups understand and respond to these difficulties.

Methodology
In-depth interviews were conducted with young adults (age 23-24) (n=19) with autism and one or more clinically recognised mental health difficulties, and parents of young adults (n=19) and children (age 11-15) (n=16) with autism and mental health difficulties.

Results
Findings from the interviews with young adults with autism will be presented. These show how the young adults 1) made sense of the emotional and behavioural difficulties they experienced, 2) understood their causes, and 3) managed or sought support for those difficulties. We explore how our respondents articulated those experiences as part of their own identities as young adults with autism and the extent to which they framed them as preventable, reducible or manageable.

Conclusions/Perspectives
The paper will consider the understandings about autism and emotional and behavioural difficulties expressed by the young adults, and the implications of those understandings for self-management and help-seeking. We ask how emotional and behavioural difficulties are understood in relation to autism, and the extent to which conventional responses (such as support from a health professional) were seen to ‘work’ for the young adults.

The research to be presented is part a programme of work funded by the National Institute of Health Research. The study received a favourable ethical opinion from the relevant NHS research ethics committee. Participants were... [ view full abstract ]

The research to be presented is part a programme of work funded by the National Institute of Health Research. The study received a favourable ethical opinion from the relevant NHS research ethics committee.

Participants were provided with detailed information about the study before being contacted by the research team, including a means by which they could refuse their participation. Informed consent was received from all participants who agreed to take part, and prior to the interviews taking place. Participants were informed that they could withdraw from the study at any time.

Care was taken to ensure participants were not harmed by the interview procedure. Interview questions were typically open and led by the accounts provided by respondents. Information on relevant mental health organizations was also offered to participants who wanted it.

All data used is anonymised in accordance with the confidentiality, anonymity and dissemination statements agreed during the consent process.

There is no conflict of interest to report.