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Cited by 103Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchDisability Education and EmploymentYouth Education and Societal Dynamics

‘I definitely feel more in control of my life’: The perspectives of young autistic people and their parents on emerging adulthood

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Cribb, Serena, Kenny, Lorcan, Pellicano, Elizabeth·2019·Autism
DOI 10.1177/1362361319830029
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Abstract

Long-term outcomes studies often paint a discouraging picture of the lives lived by autistic adults. Yet, their outcomes are often measured against normative markers of traditional adult roles, which may not apply to autistic people making the transition to adulthood. Here, we investigated the transition experiences of a group of young autistic people who were followed from childhood. Twenty-six young people and their parents ( n = 28) participated in semistructured interviews on the process of transition and their aspirations for the future. Parents often voiced serious concerns about the ongoing support their children would require and the severe lack of services designed to support them as adults. Yet, overall, young people reported feeling more in control of their own lives, including developing a sense of identity and personal autonomy, both of which may be rooted in young autistic people’s executive skills and their ability to develop and maintain trusting relationships with others – two potential candidate areas for targeted support. These results call into question whether the traditional standards to which we often hold young autistic people are developmentally appropriate and suggest that the pressures of striving towards more normative ways of engaging in the world may be detrimental to their well-being.

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Crossref · 10.1177/1362361319830029

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77 of 77 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Studies with young autistic people in particular have found that they often construe themselves as 'different' to neurotypical people in a negative way.

    “Studies with young autistic people in particular have found that they often construe themselves as ‘different’ to neurotypical people in a negative way (Cribb, Kenny, & Pellicano, 2019; Humphrey & Lewis, 2008; Shattuck et al., 2014; Williams, Gleeson, & Jones, 2019).”

    From Annual Research Review: Shifting from ‘normal science’ to neurodiversity in autism science (2022) · cites this paper as Cribb, Kenny, & Pellicano, 2019

  • In the face of constant negative messaging, especially combined with more generalised discrimination against disabled people, considerable stigma is associated with the autism label.

    “In the face of this constant negative messaging, especially combined with more generalised discrimination against disabled people, it is unsurprising that considerable stigma is associated with the autism label.”

    From Annual Research Review: Shifting from ‘normal science’ to neurodiversity in autism science (2022) · cites this paper as Cribb, Kenny, & Pellicano, 2019

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Authors
Cribb, S., Kenny, L., & Pellicano, E.
Affiliations
  • The University of Western Australia (AU)
  • University College London (GB)
  • Macquarie University (AU)
Corresponding author
Pellicano, Elizabeth
ORCID
Venue
Autism
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2019-02-28
Volume
23
Issue
7
Pages
1765-1781
ISSN
  • 1362-3613 (ISSN-L)
  • 1461-7005
DOI
10.1177/1362361319830029
OpenAlex
W2918237446
Cited by
103
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 3
FWCI
6.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Autism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Western Australia (N/A)
  • Leverhulme Trust (2015 Philip Leverhulme Prize)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Disability Education and Employment
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Youth Education and Societal Dynamics
Keywords
emerging adulthood, coming of age, parents of autistic children, individual autonomy, sense of identity, executive function, trust relationships, well-being, developmental appropriateness
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Autistic Disorder, Female, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Parents, Adolescent Development, Young Adult

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