The Relationship between Music and Well-being through the Eyes of Autistic Adults

Despite the fact that autistic people make up a significant portion of music therapy clients, we know about their subjective experience of music. Studies assessing the effectiveness of music interventions for autistic people mostly measure behavioural changes in social communication and interactions while disregarding well-being or quality of life. This raises important ethical questions. To gain a better understanding of how autistic adults view the relationship between music and well-being, we conducted interviews with 13 autistic participants (seven women and six men) who shared their experiences and understanding of music. The findings reveal the extensive and profound significance of music, encompassing everything from seemingly minor aspects, such as finding motivation to perform household chores, to existential questions like the choice to stay alive. The purpose of this presentation is to connect these findings with the fundamental psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness and to demonstrate how music can play a role in the well-being and empowerment of autistic adults. This knowledge can help in setting new goals and methods for measuring the effects of musical activities in future studie