Autistic adults often experience heightened sensitivity to social rejection, leading to overwhelming emotional and physical reactions that are frequently invalidated. This qualitative study revealed that these intense feelings are linked to inherent Autistic traits and lifelong experiences of rejection, with individuals using various coping strategies, including therapy, with mixed success. The findings highlight rejection sensitivity as a significant but under-recognised challenge in Autistic adults, calling for further research on its prevalence and interventions.
Autistic adults often experience heightened sensitivity to social rejection, leading to overwhelming emotional and physical reactions that are frequently invalidated. This qualitative study revealed that these intense feelings are linked to inherent Autistic traits and lifelong experiences of rejection, with individuals using various coping strategies, including therapy, with mixed success. The findings highlight rejection sensitivity as a significant but under-recognised challenge in Autistic adults, calling for further research on its prevalence and interventions.
