Same Transition, Different Perspectives: Comparing Dyadic Interviews with Autistic Young Adults and Parents

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
• Sociology of Family

Background:

• The transition to adulthood is challenging for autistic youth, often exacerbated by differing goals between youth and parents.
• Existing autism research on this transition primarily focuses on White, higher-resourced populations, with limited data from diverse, low-income, or Black families.
• There is a need for research that includes the perspectives of underrepresented autistic young adults and their families to improve transition outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perspectives of autistic youth and their parents on the transition to adulthood within an urban, low-resourced school district.
• To investigate how dyadic interviews with autistic young adults and their parents can illuminate divergent goals and values during this life stage.

Main Methods:

• Conducted four sets of dyadic interviews with autistic young adults and their resident parents from diverse backgrounds (three Black families, one White low-income family).
• All autistic youth had completed high school 1-6 years prior and required support for the transition to adulthood.
• Interviews were conducted with parents and youth, sometimes jointly, to gather comprehensive insights into their experiences and perceptions.

Main Results:

• Three key themes emerged: independence, structured transition, and interpersonal relationships, with divergent conceptualizations between parents and youth.
• Parents emphasized long-term, normative goals (e.g., financial independence), while youth focused on current meaningful experiences and social aspects of independence.
• Differences were also noted in views on ongoing structured supports and the importance of peer relationships for autistic youth.

Conclusions:

• Standard transition research questions may not capture the nuanced perspectives of diverse autistic youth and their families.
• Findings underscore the importance of considering differing goals and values in autism transition research, particularly for underrepresented groups.
• This study can inform the development of more inclusive research methods and tailored support systems to improve transition outcomes for all autistic young adults.