Eliciting the views of autistic adolescents attending specialist schools on what friendships mean to them.
Jo Halsall, Elise Robinson, Anna Cook and 2 others
PMID 41618911WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic adolescents with complex communication needs described friendships as connections driven by strong emotions, active play with chosen peers, and sometimes close ties to familiar adults.
They also asked for space from friends in structured settings.
Key findings
01The children identified friendships by strong emotions, including positive and challenging feelings, and did not separate friends who felt good from friends who felt less positive.
02Some children with minimal spoken communication showed more interest in familiar adults than in peers, while most children named adults they felt close to.
03The children preferred active play spaces for friendship, and some wanted space from friends in structured settings.
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
This was a small purposive sample from a specialist school, with mainly boys and one girl, so it may not represent autistic adolescents with complex communication needs in other settings. The children had complex communication and learning needs, and for some it was not possible to fully establish their understanding of friendship or why they chose particular peers. The interview resources were limited to familiar school photos and symbols, which may have made it hard for children to express friendships or preferences outside the school context. Only seven children continued beyond the initial photo and activity choices, so the range of resources was not used equally by all participants. The analysis was interpretive and relied on researchers' familiarity with the school and children, including a trusted adult who knew the participants, which may shape how non-verbal responses were read. The study did not test whether these approaches improve friendships or communication outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors reported no financial support and no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that visual supports, active play or adult familiarity improve friendships. The study explored the views of 12 autistic adolescents with complex communication needs and did not test any intervention.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →