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ORIGINAL PAPER
Autistic burnout - a preliminary research report
1
University of the National Education Commission, Krakow
Submission date: 2024-07-02
Final revision date: 2025-01-25
Acceptance date: 2025-03-06
Publication date: 2025-04-10
Corresponding author
JoMS 2025;61(1):618-642
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
The aim of the preliminary research was to identify thematic threads present in the responses of individuals on the autism spectrum (who reported experiencing an episode of autistic burnout) to four open-ended questions regarding the causes, symptoms, duration of autistic burnout, and strategies for recovery.
Material and methods:
The study included 30 adults with a formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability or functional language impairment. The sample was selected purposefully. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which allowed for the identification of the main categories and themes in the respondents' answers.
Results:
The results enabled the identification of nine categories of causes and ten categories of symptoms of autistic burnout, as well as six themes related to recovery strategies. However, individuals reporting an episode of autistic burnout estimated the duration of this state differently, which prevented its precise determination.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that the conceptualization of autistic burnout by the Polish group of self-advocates appears to be consistent with reports from international researchers. However, the study did not allow for a conclusive determination of the duration of autistic burnout.
The aim of the preliminary research was to identify thematic threads present in the responses of individuals on the autism spectrum (who reported experiencing an episode of autistic burnout) to four open-ended questions regarding the causes, symptoms, duration of autistic burnout, and strategies for recovery.
Material and methods:
The study included 30 adults with a formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability or functional language impairment. The sample was selected purposefully. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which allowed for the identification of the main categories and themes in the respondents' answers.
Results:
The results enabled the identification of nine categories of causes and ten categories of symptoms of autistic burnout, as well as six themes related to recovery strategies. However, individuals reporting an episode of autistic burnout estimated the duration of this state differently, which prevented its precise determination.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that the conceptualization of autistic burnout by the Polish group of self-advocates appears to be consistent with reports from international researchers. However, the study did not allow for a conclusive determination of the duration of autistic burnout.
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