Towards a better understanding of adverse life experiences in autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Individuals with autism and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) face greater adversity, which is typically associated with negative life outcomes (e.g., depression), but potentially, adaptive strengths (e.g., resilience). Little is known about the types of adversity experienced by autistic/ADHD adults, the processes underlying this increased risk, and the subsequent impact of adversity. Further, almost nothing is known about whether and how strengths arise from adversity in neurodevelopmental conditions. Autistic/ADHD adults (N = 123), living in the UK or USA, reported their adverse life experiences, including the role of autism/ADHD, and any resulting strengths. Data were analysed using codebook thematic analysis. Overall, eight themes (11 subthemes) highlighted four factors underlying adversity (Cognitive, Social, Emotional, and Sensory), two major types of adverse experiences (Marginalisation and Mistreatment), and two long-term outcomes of adversity (Health Outcomes and Strength Outcomes). Autistic/ADHD individuals experience an array of adversities across settings (including schools, homes, and workplaces), in part due to autism/ADHD-associated cognitive, social, emotional, and sensory factors. Whilst there are negative consequences of adversity, we also highlight that adverse life experiences may confer strengths. These findings underscore the need for tailored interventions to mitigate the susceptibility to adversities and subsequently reduce the negative impact of adversities in autism/ADHD.