Using Experience Sampling Methodology to Capture Disclosure Opportunities for Autistic Adults

Background

Despite a recent surge in literature contributing to our understanding of autistic individuals' disclosure experiences, the findings remain mixed. Research based on autistic people's perspective often indicates negative outcomes, while research that focuses on nonautistic perspectives is more positive. In addition, no disclosure study has used ecologically valid research methods, which help to reduce the risk of memory biases and are more representative of real-world experiences. The aim of this research was to capture outcomes from real-world disclosure opportunities as reported by a diverse range of autistic adults.

Methods

Thirty-six autistic adults reported their disclosure opportunities through experience sampling methodology (58% female, 28% male, and 14% nonbinary), multiple times per day or week for 2 months. Importantly, we embedded coproduction from conception to dissemination, ensuring that the outputs are relevant and beneficial for the autistic community.

Results

In total, participants recorded 231 disclosure opportunities (M = 6.42, SD = 4.83). Two-thirds of opportunities (n = 153) were categorized as disclosure, where the participants decided to share they were autistic, and 33.8% (n = 78) were labeled nondisclosure, where the participants decided not to share that they were autistic. Qualitative thematic analysis of open responses resulted in five themes that illustrated the thought processes during disclosure opportunities, the reactions of others, and reflections following disclosure for autistic adults in our study.

Conclusion

These findings show that disclosure decisions and outcomes are complex and are influenced by both internal and external factors. Both support for autistic adults navigating this process and knowledge for nonautistic individuals on the experiences of their autistic friends, family, and community members will help to alleviate negative experiences and improve the mental well-being of autistic adults who face these decisions daily.

Exploring Identity Importance for Autistic Adults and Associations with Disclosure Experiences: A Brief Report

Background

A strong autistic identity can help to support mental well-being, reduce anxiety and depression, increase self-esteem, and strengthen a shared community for autistic people. Autistic people are regularly faced with a decision to disclose their autistic identity to others and report a range of experiences after disclosure. The purpose of this brief report was to examine the association between identity and disclosure decisions in a sample of autistic adults to gather preliminary evidence justifying future research. Specifically, we were interested in learning more about how autistic identity is associated with one's approach to disclosure, while also exploring associations with other identities such as ethnic, gender, sexual, and religious identity.

Methods

Participants (N = 111) completed an online questionnaire about their intersecting identities and their approach to disclosure. The research team that conducted this study was composed of both autistic and nonautistic researchers.

Results

Results demonstrated that participants who felt their autistic identity and sexual identity were highly important also reported frequent disclosure of being autistic. Religious, gender, and ethnic identity were not associated with one's disclosure decisions or their disclosure outcomes.

Conclusion

Overall, the results of this study emphasize the link between autistic and sexual identities and autism disclosure, but more research in this space is needed to better support the wider autism community.

Resistance training and bone mineral density in adolescent females

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effects of 15 months of resistance training on bone mineral density (BMD) in female adolescents (aged 14 to 17 years).

STUDY DESIGN

Participants were randomly assigned to either a training (n = 46) or control group (n = 21). BMD and body composition were measured by using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Strength was assessed by means of one-repetition maximums for the leg press and bench press. The exercise group trained 30 to 45 minutes a day, 3 days per week, using 15 different resistance exercises. Control participants remained sedentary (<2 hours of exercise per week).

RESULTS

Leg strength increased significantly (40%) in the exercise group, but there were no changes in the control group. Femoral neck BMD increased significantly in the training group (1.035 to 1.073 g/cm(2), P <.01) but not in the control group (1.034 to 1.048 g/cm(2)). No significant changes were seen in either group in lumbar spine BMD (1.113 to 1.142 g/cm(2) and 1.158 to 1.190 g/cm(2), respectively) or total body BMD (1.103 to 1.134 g/cm(2) and 1.111 to 1.129 g/cm(2), respectively).

CONCLUSION

Resistance training is a potential method for increasing bone density in adolescents, although such a program would be best done as part of the school curriculum.

Placental agenesis, embryonal hydraemia, embryolethality and acute hypervitaminosis A in rats

Acute maternal hypervitaminosis A established on Day 9 of gestation in Sprague-Dawley-derived rats caused a dose-related increase in the resorption of implants. The median embryolethal dose was 189,000 i.u./kg. In addition to suppression of the allantois leading to placental agenesis, damaged embryos showed retarded somatic development and hydraemia, all apparent 24 h after treatment. At about Day 11 the hydraemia involved the visceral wall of the yolk sac causing death of the embryo soon after. The fluid in the vitelline vessels continued to collect until Day 13 when it absorbed following necrosis of the wall of the yolk sac. Two mechanisms are suggested for the embryonal hydraemia: either the excess fluid resulted from a permeability disorder induced by the vitamin A; or it was retained metabolic water or water specifically absorbed to inflate the allantois and, being unused for this purpose, it pooled in the blood vessels of the embryo. The yolk sac hydraemia is more likely to have followed injury to the proximal endoderm.

Vasopressin induced dysmelia in rats and its relation to amniocentesis dysmelia

Vasopressin injected into the amniotic sac of 15½-day Sprague-Dawley rat foetuses induced limb defects. The skeletal malformations were restricted to the paws and were characterized by tapering of the digital rays. The forelimbs were more severely affected than the hindlimbs. Both of these features differed from the lesions found in amniocentesis dysmelia. Although haemorrhages are responsible for a part of the deformity in the two syndromes, the total mechanism of each must have some specific components.

Amniocentesis dysmelia in rats

Amniocentesis performed on Day 15½ of gestation caused dysmelia in 85 of 143 offspring of Sprague-Dawley and Wistar strain rats. Almost all defects were of reduction type, only 3 hind limb postaxial supernumerary digits being seen. Defect intensity graded from longitudinal splitting of the phalanges, through phalangeal suppression, to very severe growth retardation of the long limb bones and the limb girdle. The lesions in the 2 strains were indistinguishable from each other. Subcutaneous haemorrhages were frequently present and could take the form of blebs. Hind limbs were more frequently and, on average, more severely affected than fore limbs. Left-sided defects were more severe than right-sided ones. Sections of tibiae from defects of intermediate severity showed impaired endosteal, periosteal and endochondral osteogenesis.

The total limb defects may be regarded as a combination of (a) retarded growth in long bones, (b) arrested or aberrant differentiation of the bones in the digital rays and (c) destruction of digital structures by haemorrhage and possibly localized ischaemic tissue necrosis. Among the associated defects were cleft palate, anomalies of the abdominal wall, genitourinary tract defects and short umbilical cord. Some aspects of the possible part played by the chorion and amnion in limb defect production have been reviewed and the tentative conclusion reached that the foetal membranes do not significantly compress the foetus.

Hypervitaminosis A dysmelia in rats

Limb defects were induced in the offspring of rats by giving 200,000-800,000 i.u. per kg. vitamin A on days 10-16 of their pregnancy.

The malformations were symmetrical and there was no fore or hind limb predominance but fore limb lesions tended to be more severe.

As severity increased there was progressive distoproximal suppression of digital rays commencing with digits 1 and 5 then extending to digits 2 and 3. Digit 4 was affected last.

Syndactyly of soft tissues and bone was a part of the process and could produce single composite digits.

Deletion of digits occurred and could result from pure reduction defects or from syndactyly.

The defect pattern and the sequence of digit involvement was fairly constant and matching patterns of reduction and fusion anomalies probably affected the carpal and the tarsal bones.

Long bones showed varying degrees of shortening and deformity attributable to suppressed endochondral and periosteal bone formation.

Repair phenomena following cessation of the treatment were in evidence.

It is suggested that the skeletal malformations in the limbs result from first disturbed bone organogenesis and then from impeded postorganogenic bone growth.