‘I felt like I deserved it because I was autistic’: Understanding the impact of interpersonal victimisation in the lives of autistic people

Pearson, A.; Rose, K.; Rees, J.

Abstract

Research suggests that there is a high prevalence of interpersonal violence and victimisation within the autistic population, and that this accounts for poor mental health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the impact of interpersonal violence and victimisation on autistic adults from their own perspective and explore what helps or hinders their recovery. In total, 102 autistic adults completed either an online survey or a spoken interview about their experiences of interpersonal violence and victimisation. We analysed the data using a thematic analysis, and found four themes: (1) The usual for autism (expectations of victimisation, experiences of othering), (2) Personhood revoked: The cost of living (being part of a neurominority, trauma, masking and burnout), (3) Unpacking the baggage (impact of hermeneutical injustice) and (4) ‘If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you have to invent the universe first’ (structural inequality/power dynamics, support and community). Findings highlight the importance of considering the relationship between stigma and victimisation, and the relationship between trauma, masking, and burnout in autistic people. Reducing barriers to support and recovery are contingent on reducing structural inequality and providing better training about autistic people to frontline professionals.

Citation

Pearson, A., Rose, K., & Rees, J. (2023). ‘I felt like I deserved it because I was autistic’: Understanding the impact of interpersonal victimisation in the lives of autistic people. Autism, 27(2), 500-511. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221104546

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 11, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jun 23, 2022
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Deposit Date: May 10, 2024
• Journal: Autism
• Print ISSN: 1362-3613
• Electronic ISSN: 1461-7005
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 500-511
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221104546
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2436652
• Related Public URLs: https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/15710/