Autism and wellbeing: A preliminary investigation of ‘Flourishing Autism’.

Although a plethora of literature and research highlights the benefits of wellbeing and being able to flourish in order to live a long, good, meaningful life of quality, the exploration of these factors among individuals with an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) has received a dearth of interest. This is especially relevant when evidence of health inequalities for those diagnosed with ASC are of such a degree that premature deaths and decreased longevity are prevalent. Using a Grounded Theory methodology (GTM), the present study aimed at exploring the perceptions and experiences of adults with ASC regarding the concept of flourishing and the experience of wellbeing. The study identified that there are two emerging theoretical categories of ‘Meaning’ and ‘Acceptance’ that are key to the concept of flourishing wellbeing for adults with ASC with a mediating factor of the core category of ‘Environmental Conditions’. These identified categories were then used as the building blocks of a proposed substantive theory of wellbeing for adults with ASC. Findings suggest that the needs of those with ASC to be able to flourish into wellbeing are not dissimilar to those described by theories that are for the general population. However, the nuances and meanings behind the categories are of more importance especially when placed upon the continuum of the environment and how that plays a mediating role. This study’s findings form a basis that would benefit adults WITH ASC, carers, healthcare professionals, social care professionals, teachers, family, friends, and society in general; all those who are committed to ensuring that the life lived by those with ASC is not less rich or healthy than the life of a neurotypical