Autistic Women's Experiences of Self Compassion and Receiving Their Diagnosis in Adulthood

Research highlights strong links between self-compassion and mental health, but there is very limited research specifically exploring autistic individual's experiences of self-compassion. The process of receiving a diagnosis on the autism spectrum can be complex and autistic women tend to experience several barriers to diagnosis. This study adds to the growing area of research exploring autistic women's experiences of receiving a diagnosis in adulthood. This study employs Interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore if receiving a diagnosis of Autism influences women's perceptions of self-compassion. The findings may inform client-centred practices in health care settings and potentially present positive aspects of autism diagnosis.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Autism

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 12

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Yorkshire And Humber
    • Sheffield, Yorkshire And Humber, United Kingdom, S1 2LT
      • DClin Univeristy of Sheffield

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 99 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Women who have received their diagnosis on the autism spectrum over the age of 18 years old.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to consent to participate
• Cisgender female (female at birth and raised as female).
• Speak English fluently
• Received an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, aged 18 years old or above

Exclusion Criteria:

• Lack capacity to consent to participate in the study
• Unable to speak English fluently
• Have not received an Autism diagnosis
• Have received Autism diagnosis prior to their 18th birthday
• Have an intellectual disability
• Born male

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Experience of receiving ASD diagnosis in adulthood based on semi structured interviews	Participants' experience of receiving ASD diagnosis in adulthood based on semi structured interviews, completed in one interview.	day one

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Experience of self-compassion before and after receiving ASD diagnosis based on semi structured interviews	Participants' experiences of self-compassion before and after receiving ASD diagnosis based on semi structured interviews, completed in one interview.	day one

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Sheffield

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): August 12, 2019
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): December 1, 2020
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): March 29, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 13, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 6, 2020
• First Posted (ACTUAL): March 10, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): May 6, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2021
• Last Verified: March 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Autism; Self compassion
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: 164845

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: All electronic data including transcripts and audio recordings will be stored in the university data repository, until publication and dissemination of the study is completed. The paper copies of anonymized interview transcripts will be stored in a locked cabinet in the research administration office at the university of Sheffield, for a maximum of six years and then destroyed confidentially.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No