Diversity in Autistic Play: Autistic Adults' Experiences.
Emma Pritchard-Rowe, Carmen de Lemos, Katie Howard and 1 others
PMID 39139511WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic adults described solitary play as restorative and social play as draining but valuable.
They preferred parallel play and smaller groups. Imaginary play was often grounded in reality. Flow provided relaxation but disrupted self-care. These preferences vary by individual needs and energy levels.
Key findings
01Participants generally preferred solitary play for relaxation or recuperation, while social play was valued for connection but described as exhausting and requiring more energy.
02Many participants engaged in imaginary play, often preferring activities grounded in reality or familiar experiences rather than purely fantastical scenarios.
03Flow states during play were common and provided relaxation, but also led to negative impacts on daily living such as disrupted sleep and missed meals.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was predominantly White, highly educated, and verbally fluent, which may not represent the experiences of autistic people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, lower education levels, or those who communicate non-verbally. Member checking was not conducted due to pandemic disruptions, which limits the verification of interpretations with participants. The study did not include greater autistic involvement in the analysis stage, which could have enriched the interpretation. Qualitative findings are not generalizable to the wider autistic population.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the preference for solitary or parallel play as a lack of social skills or a deficit to be fixed. These are valid strategies for energy regulation and social comfort. Additionally, do not assume that all autistic adults experience play in the same way; preferences vary significantly based on individual energy levels and context.