“I Felt Like I Deserved It Because I Was Autistic”: Understanding the Impact of Interpersonal Victimisation on the Lives of Autistic People.
Pearson, Rose and Rees (2023)
Content Warning: Interpersonal Violence and Victimisation
This study explores the impact of interpersonal violence and victimisation on Autistic adults from their own perspective. Research suggests that interpersonal violence and victimisation can account for poor mental health outcomes, this research explores what helps of hinders recovery. 102 Autistic adults completed an online survey or a spoken interview about their experiences. The data was analysed using a thematic analysis, four themes were found. These themes were: The usual for Autism (expectations of victimisation); Personhood revoked – the cost of living; Unpacking the baggage (impact of hermeneutical injustice); structural inequality/power dynamics, support and community. The findings show the importance of the relationship between stigma and victimisation and between trauma, masking and burnout in Autistic people. The authors state that to reduce barriers to support and recover it is vital to reduce structural inequality and provide better training to frontline professionals about Autistic people.
