Weak ties and the value of social connections for autistic people as revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: A diverse portfolio of social relationships matters for people's wellbeing, including both strong, secure relationships with others ('close ties') and casual interactions with acquaintances and strangers ('weak ties'). Almost all of autism research has focused on Autistic people's close ties with friends, family and intimate partners, resulting in a radically constrained understanding of Autistic sociality. Here, we sought to understand the potential power of weak-tie interactions by drawing on 95 semi-structured interviews with Autistic young people and adults conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. We analysed the qualitative data using reflexive thematic analysis within an essentialist framework. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Autistic people deeply missed not only their close personal

SUBMITTER: Pellicano E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11883032 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature