Knowing and accepting oneself: Exploring possibilities of self-awareness among working autistic young adults.
Hanna Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, Lill Hultman, Johan Hallqvist
PMID 36409056WHAT IT FOUND
Working autistic adults described self-awareness as a skill they actively build, not a deficit.
They learn from past experiences to manage energy, rely on informal support for daily tasks, and use diagnosis to understand their own functionality rather than just fitting neurotypical norms.
Key findings
01Participants developed self-awareness through three strategies: learning from previous experiences, securing support from others, and understanding their specific autistic functionality.
02Workplace challenges arose when managers assumed autistic employees could perform tasks in the same way as neurotypical colleagues, leading to unrealistic expectations.
03A diagnosis helped some participants understand their energy fluctuations and develop coping strategies, though it also raised questions about identity and competence.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only four participants, limiting the generalizability of the findings. Three of the four participants were men, which may privilege autistic male perspectives. All participants were located in an urban context in Sweden, which may not reflect experiences in rural areas or other countries. The study explored self-awareness strategies but did not test whether these strategies lead to better clinical or vocational outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors declared no financial support for the research, authorship, or publication of this article.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that these specific strategies improve employment outcomes. This is a small qualitative study describing how four individuals experienced self-awareness, not a trial testing an intervention.