title: The Experience of Social Participation in Everyday Contexts Among Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Experience Sampling Study.
abstract: This study explored the everyday life experiences of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Fourteen Australians and 16 Taiwanese (aged 16-45 years) with Asperger syndrome/high functioning autism recorded what they were doing, level of interest/involvement, emotional reactions and preference for being alone 7 times/day for 7 days. Multilevel analyses showed that 'solitary/parallel leisure' and 'social activities' were positively associated with interest and involvement. Engaging in these two activities and interacting with friends were positively associated with enjoyment. However, engaging in 'social activities' and having less severe ASD symptoms were associated with in-the-moment anxiety. Severity of ASD and social anxiety moderated experience in social situations. The findings highlight the importance of considering the in-the-moment experience of people with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, PO Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW, 1825, Australia. yu-wei.chen@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Yu-Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, PO Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW, 1825, Australia.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bundy
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Reinie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cordier
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, PO Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW, 1825, Australia.|Brain and Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Stewart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Einfeld
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001315:Australia; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D058992:Social Participation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asperger syndrome; Ecological momentary assessment; Real-life experience; Social interaction