查看文章

Background: Although studies have found that autism is underdiagnosed in women and that autistic women have poorer well-being outcomes than men, less is known about autistic women's experiences with self-identification or diagnosis or how they feel such experiences affect their mental health.

Methods: We explored autistic women's experiences of coming to recognize and understand themselves as autistic. We used data collected from blogs written by autistic women about their diagnostic or self-identification experiences. We were particularly interested in well-being, and how this contributed to, was affected by, and interacted with the identification and diagnostic process. We used thematic analysis to explore and document experiences described in blogs from 20 blogsites (representing the views of 23 autistic women).

Results: Acceptance was a central issue. We developed themes of self-understanding …