A qualitative investigation of risk and protective factors for interpersonal violence in adults on the autism spectrum

Fardella, Michelle A.; Riosa, Priscilla Burnham; Weiss, Jonathan A.

doi:10.1080/09687599.2018.1498320

Cited by 18 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…Intuitively, ITS constructs appear highly relevant to autistic people, given the experiences likely to generate states of thwarted belongingness, burdensomeness, and acquired capability for suicide (henceforth ‘acquired capability’): social ostracism, bullying and victimization [ 15 – 17 ], adverse childhood experiences [ 18 ], chronic unemployment [ 19 ], self-injury [ 20 , 21 ], marginalization [ 22 ], and traumatic or alienating experiences with the professionals and systems designed to support them [ 23 , 24 ]. It also seems likely that autistic people might accrue capability for suicide at higher rates than non-autistic people, given the greater frequency of self-injury [ 25 , 26 ], abuse and assault [ 17 , 27 , 28 ] in autistic children and adults. Differences in the rate at which autistic people acquire capability for suicide might also be posited, since capability for suicide can also be related to genetic or dispositional attributes (such as differences in pain sensitivity, squeamishness and harm avoidance) [ 29 ].…”

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confidence: 99%

The relevance of the interpersonal theory of suicide for predicting past-year and lifetime suicidality in autistic adults

et al. 2022

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Background While there are known risk factors for suicidality in autistic adults, these are often unconnected from theoretical frameworks that might explain why risk is elevated and guide clinical interventions. The present study investigated the relevance of constructs from the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS), including perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness and acquired capability for suicide, and explored mechanisms through which certain risk factors (relationship status, age at diagnosis) might elevate suicide risk. Methods Autistic adults (n = 314) completed an online study including measures of depression, anxiety and constructs from the ITS. Linear and multinomial regression analysis disentangled contributions of ITS variables from effects of depression and anxiety for past-year suicide ideation, past-year and lifetime suicide attempts. Mediation analyses examined associations between risk factors and these suicide outcomes via mechanisms proposed by the ITS. Results Past-year suicide ideation was associated with burdensomeness, mental rehearsal of suicide plans (a facet of acquired capability), and depression. Greater feelings of burdensomeness, and reduced fear of death, marked out participants who had attempted suicide in comparison to those who had experienced suicide ideation in the past year. Relationship status was indirectly associated with past-year suicide ideation via the mediators of depression and burdensomeness, and was associated with past-year attempts via its effect on ideation. Age at diagnosis was unrelated to any variables. Limitations Cross-sectional research is insensitive to causality and temporal dynamics, which is likely why interaction hypotheses from the ITS were unsupported. Normative measures may be invalid in autistic samples. There was no control group. The autistic sample was unrepresentative of the whole population, particularly autistic people with intellectual disabilities, ethnic/racial minorities, and gender minorities. Conclusions Perceived burdensomeness and acquired capability appear potentially important to suicide in autistic people, and may mediate the effects of some risk factors. Future research should explore the temporal dynamics of suicide trajectories in longitudinal, prospective designs.

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confidence: 99%

The relevance of the interpersonal theory of suicide for predicting past-year and lifetime suicidality in autistic adults

et al. 2022

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“…In contrast, Gibbs et al (2021) found no difference in reported physical and sexual violence during adulthood for autistic and non-autistic adults, although this information pertained to the previous two years only . Bronfenbrenner's ecological model (1977) has been proposed as a model for understanding factors that may contribute towards interpersonal violence amongst autistic people (Fardella et al, 2018). This model proposes that victimisation is the result of a complex interplay of four levels of factors i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Extent and Nature of Autistic People’s Violence Experiences During Adulthood: A Cross-sectional Study of Victimisation

Gibbs

Hudson

Pellicano

2022

J Autism Dev Disord

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This study investigated the extent and nature of violence experiences reported by autistic adults. Autistic (n = 118) and non-autistic (n = 110) adults completed a questionnaire about their experiences of sexual harassment, stalking and harassment, sexual violence and physical violence since the age of 15. Autistic adults reported higher rates of all violence types, multiple forms of violence and repeated instances of the same type of violence. Typical gender differences in the patterns of violence (more physical violence reported by men and more sexual violence reported by women) were apparent in the non-autistic but not the autistic group. Findings add to the limited research in this area and highlight the need to identify risk and protective factors. Policy and practice implications are also discussed.

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“…Autistic people experience interpersonal violence and victimisation (IPV) at an alarming rate, with figures putting prevalence between 50-89% (Papadopoulos, 2016;Griffiths et al 2019), including exposure to polyvictimisation (repeat instances of IPV) (Fardella and Weiss, 2018). IPV is characterised by the experience of violence and abuse (including emotional and physical harm, sexual violence, and financial exploitation) within interpersonal relationships, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…IPV is characterised by the experience of violence and abuse (including emotional and physical harm, sexual violence, and financial exploitation) within interpersonal relationships, e.g. friendships, intimate partnerships, and families (Fardella, Burnham-Riosa, and Weiss, 2018). The prevalence of IPV may explain higher rates of PTSD within the autistic population (Reuben, Stanzione and Singleton, 2021), and has been related to poor mental health outcomes Reuben et al 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“I felt like I deserved it because I was Autistic”: Understanding the Impact of Interpersonal Victimisation in the Lives of Autistic People

Pearson¹,

Rees²,

Rose³

2022

Preprint

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Research suggests that there is a high prevalence of interpersonal violence and victimisation within the autistic population, and that this accounts for poor mental health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the impact of interpersonal victimisation on autistic adults from their own perspective, and explore what helps or hinders their recovery. One hundred and two autistic adults completed either an online survey, or a spoken interview about their experiences of interpersonal victimisation. We analysed the data using a thematic analysis, and found four overarching themes: 1. The usual for autism (expectations of victimisation, and experiences of othering), 2. Personhood revoked: The cost of living (being part of a neurominority, trauma, masking, and burnout), 3. Unpacking the baggage (impact of hermeneutical injustice) and 4. ‘If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you have to invent the universe first’ (structural inequality and power dynamics, support, and community). Findings highlight the importance of considering the relationship between stigma and victimisation, and the relationship between trauma, masking, and burnout in autistic people. Reducing barriers to support and recovery are contingent on reducing structural inequality and providing better training about autistic people to frontline professionals.

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A qualitative investigation of risk and protective factors for interpersonal violence in adults on the autism spectrum

Cited by 18 publications

References 58 publications

The relevance of the interpersonal theory of suicide for predicting past-year and lifetime suicidality in autistic adults

The relevance of the interpersonal theory of suicide for predicting past-year and lifetime suicidality in autistic adults

The Extent and Nature of Autistic People’s Violence Experiences During Adulthood: A Cross-sectional Study of Victimisation

“I felt like I deserved it because I was Autistic”: Understanding the Impact of Interpersonal Victimisation in the Lives of Autistic People

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