Respite and connection: Autistic adults' reflections upon nature and well-being during the Covid-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Lay abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns provided opportunities to spend time in nature, with many people reporting that this benefitted their well-being. However, existing research from the pandemic period has focused on the way general populations experienced nature; less is known about how autistic people used nature to support their well-being during the pandemic. We created a survey that invited autistic adults living in the United Kingdom to reply to text box questions. A total of 127 people responded to our survey; we analysed their responses using a method called reflexive thematic analysis and developed themes based on patterns among all the responses. We developed two themes: respite in nature and connecting amid widespread disconnection.

SUBMITTER: Friedman S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10140763 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature