What Are the Lived Experiences of Strengths in Autistic Individuals? A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis

Background: Research about strengths in autistic individuals has often been based on informant perspectives. These may not align with the subjective experiences and perspectives of autistic people themselves. This study therefore aimed to center the perspectives of autistic people through a qualitative synthesis investigating the lived experiences of strengths in autistic individuals. Methods: A systematic search identified 26 qualitative articles that met the inclusion criteria, out of articles that used qualitative methods to understand autistic participants’ perspectives on strengths in autism. Results: A thematic synthesis approach generated four themes as follows: wired differently, focused interests enrich life, embracing an autism identity, and context-dependent strengths. The review findings showed that autistic individuals value abilities and attributes that they can use to help them thrive in their daily lives, for example, by enhancing their performance at work, enjoyment during an activity, or helping others. Participants had differing views about whether their strengths were attributable to their autism. Autistic strengths extended beyond abilities to pride in having an autism identity and self-knowledge. Participants recognized that their ability to express themselves or their strengths often depended on the context. Conclusion: Recommendations include supporting autistic individuals to openly explore their interests and experiences and to recognize for themselves the characteristics and skills they value, for example, how to draw upon focused interests to develop relaxation strategies.