The experience of young adults with high-functioning autism when forming relationships

Abstract

Two of the most profound deficits found across the entire spectrum of autism are; restrictive/repetitive behaviours and deficiency in communication skills. This qualitative study was carried out in order to investigate how young adults with high-functioning autism [HFA] experience communication and social interaction. Diverse literature regarding this topic were sought and critically reviewed to gain a deeper understanding on the subject. Contemporary research suggests that while young adults still experience more anxiety than their typical peers and find it more challenging to conform to social expectations, this subject is nonetheless heavily understudied. As predicted, results indicated that young adults with HFA are still experiencing certain difficulties and challenges when it came to socialisation and interaction. Although participants expressed a desire to integrate more with their peers and engage in meaningful relationships, they also agreed that unresolved issues hindering this process were still present. For this reason, the study concluded that more attention and focus should be paid in order to assist and support young adults with HFA in an effective manner.