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What’s this project about?

Past research has largely focused on the challenges and negative mental health experiences of autistic young people, thereby neglecting their experiences of positive aspects of well-being. This has led to significant gaps in both intervention development and our understanding of how autistic young people experience positive well-being across different contexts. To address these gaps, we developed a therapeutic photography intervention designed to promote well-being among autistic youth. This project had two aims: 1) to evaluate the feasibility of a novel therapeutic photography intervention, and 2) to explore the environmental characteristics that contribute to autistic youths’ well-being.

What did participation involve?

Participants took part in a four-week therapeutic photography intervention. Each week, they took photos related to a different domain of well-being: happiness, connectedness, optimism, and engagement/perseverance. At the end of each week, participants uploaded their photos and completed short reflections about each photo. Participants completed questionnaires before and after the intervention, and they also participated in a post-intervention interview surveying their perceptions of the intervention and their experiences of well-being across different contexts.

Who was involved?

Forty-one autistic young people, ages 16 to 25 years, participated in the intervention. Participants completed the intervention independently or with the help of a support person.

How did we go about doing this project?

We designed the study in collaboration with two autistic advisors. Participants were recruited using flyers sent to community organizations and online advertisements. Through questionnaire and interview data, we examined whether therapeutic photography was feasible across domains of demand, implementation, acceptability, practicality, and preliminary effects. We also sought to understand whether participants experienced any challenges with the intervention and to identify any adaptations which could make therapeutic photography more helpful and accessible to autistic young people. Participants’ photos and interview responses were further analyzed to gain an understanding of environmental factors contributing to autistic young people’s experiences of well-being across different contexts.

What did we do with our research findings?

Participants’ input allowed us to further tailor the intervention to the needs of the autistic community and proceed with a second, more rigorous, evaluation of intervention feasibility (i.e., a randomised controlled feasibility trial). We have also gathered important information regarding the environmental influences and necessary supports to promote positive well-being among autistic young people. Two articles have been published in academic journals summarizing these findings. Findings have also presented in two academic conferences.

Results

Want to know more about this project?

For more information, please contact Dr. Jonathan Weiss, Principal Investigator on the study, at jonweiss@yorku.ca

Funding

This project was funded by the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund.