Data gathered from September 2018 through June 2019 was used for a non-experimental, retrospective analysis. After the survey had been launched, the analysis team chose to participate in the project.
The Grand Sensory Survey (GSS) was disseminated internationally through the online platforms, including websites and social media accounts, of the Autistic Empire and STAR Institute for Sensory Processing.
440 responses in total were present in the sample group. HER2 immunohistochemistry Responses from participants 18 years of age and older (n = 416) were analyzed, with 189 responses identifying as autistic, 147 as non-autistic, and 80 failing to answer the survey question.
The GSS questionnaire included inquiries regarding demographics, the state of mental health, and sensory encounters.
Disruptions in the SI/P system, along with sensory sensitivities, were linked to both anxiety and depression, as evidenced by a statistically significant p-value less than .001.
Disparities in social interaction and participation play a pivotal role in shaping the mental health trajectory of autistic adults. The aim of this article is to explore how diverse components of social interaction/communication (SI/P) may affect the mental health of autistic adults. The survey's autistic-led design acknowledges and incorporates the pivotal concerns of the autistic community, extending the template for factors impacting SI/P within autism, their client-related aspects, and the consequent effects on function and participation. The authors have adopted an identity-first language approach, in accord with requests from the autistic community, as found at https//autisticadvocacy.org/about-asan/identity-first-language/. This language has been embraced by healthcare professionals and researchers, in addition to its appeal to autistic communities and self-advocates (Bottema-Beutel et al., 2021; Kenny et al., 2016). From a social model of disability and neurodiversity-affirming perspective, this article is composed. From a pool of five authors, three are autistic.
Social interaction and communication differences (SI/P) are a pivotal concern in the mental health of autistic adults, warranting careful consideration. We explore the multifaceted effects of SI/P elements on the psychological well-being of autistic adults in this article. Survey design, spearheaded by autistic individuals, ensures representation of crucial autistic community concerns, expanding the template for considering sensory integration/processing (SI/P) aspects when evaluating client factors in autism and their impact on function and participation. The authors' purposeful adoption of identity-first language, in accordance with the autistic community's request, which is further explained at https//autisticadvocacy.org/about-asan/identity-first-language/, underscores their commitment. The adoption of this language by health care professionals and researchers stems from its appeal to autistic communities and self-advocates, as highlighted in Bottema-Beutel et al. (2021) and Kenny et al. (2016). nursing in the media This article is built on the principles of the social model of disability and the affirmation of neurodiversity. Three autistic individuals are among the five authors listed.

Hospitals' impact on the mental health of autistic children is often negative. Reconfiguring hospitals to better serve the needs of children can effectively tackle this problem.
Exploring the influence of the Adaptive Care interprofessional program on nursing staff members' awareness, capabilities, and assurance in supporting the mental health of autistic children.
A pretest-posttest design characterized the quasi-experimental study.
The large pediatric hospital, renowned for its dedication to child care.
In the program's implementation, nursing staff took the lead. Approximately 300 nurses benefited from the training program, and 107 of them actively participated in evaluating the program. The pre- and post-test surveys were completed approximately one year apart by 18 members of the nursing staff.
By modifying the hospital's physical and social environments, a program including staff training and resources was designed and implemented by occupational therapy practitioners and other professionals, with the aim of ultimately improving the experience of patients.
Researchers developed and pilot-tested an online survey to assess staff knowledge, perceived efficacy, confidence levels, and the coping mechanisms utilized when caring for autistic children within a hospital environment.
After the program was implemented, respondents reported a significant rise in effectiveness and confidence while working with autistic children in the hospital. Respondents indicated a substantial rise in the number of strategies used in caring for autistic children.
By integrating interprofessional collaboration and programming, hospitals can improve the social environment, enhancing nursing staff's self-assurance, conviction, and methods for addressing the mental health needs of autistic children, ultimately upgrading the care they receive. The Adaptive Care program demonstrates how occupational therapy practitioners and interprofessional team members work together to adapt the physical and social healthcare environments for autistic children's mental health needs. The program proved instrumental in bolstering the self-efficacy, confidence, and strategic skillsets of nurses caring for autistic children in the hospital environment. The article positions itself within a framework that values the identity-first language of the autistic community. In an intentional display of non-ableist language, their strengths and abilities are discussed. Health care professionals and researchers have followed suit in adopting this language, a choice also made by autistic communities and self-advocates (Bottema-Beutel et al., 2021; Kenny et al., 2016).
Programs designed for interprofessional collaboration can positively influence the social environments of hospitals by boosting nursing staff's self-efficacy, confidence, and development of improved strategies for supporting the mental health of autistic children and improving their healthcare. The Adaptive Care program is a prime instance of how occupational therapists, along with other interprofessional team members, modify physical and social health care environments, prioritizing autistic children's mental well-being. This program successfully bolstered the self-efficacy, confidence, and strategic approaches of nurses caring for autistic children within the hospital setting. The author's positionality in this article is explicitly demonstrated by using the identity-first language 'autistic people'. Their strengths and abilities are detailed in a consciously chosen non-ableist language. This language, a key tool for autistic communities and self-advocates, has been integrated into healthcare and research practices, as evidenced by the work of Bottema-Beutel et al. (2021) and Kenny et al. (2016).

A paucity of studies has examined pain experiences in autistic individuals, notably failing to address social pain in daily scenarios or incorporate perspectives gathered directly from autistic people.
To scrutinize the diverse expressions of social pain in autistic people.
The research methodology involved a descriptive qualitative design and subsequent deductive thematic analysis. The goal of the semistructured interviews was to collect data on autistic individuals' experiences of social pain, their coping strategies, and the implications for their participation.
Online interviews leverage Zoom's videoconferencing capabilities.
Fifteen autistic people were identified and included in the study using purposeful and criterion-based sampling.
The data's analysis yielded four fundamental themes: (1) articulating a clear definition of social pain, differentiating it from other types of pain; (2) exploring the sources of social pain—internal, external, and their combinations; (3) identifying the outcome of loneliness, representing the gap between desiring and lacking social connections; and (4) examining coping strategies, categorized along a continuum from inward-focused to outward-directed methods for addressing social pain.
The study demonstrates a difference between the social interaction requirements of autistic persons and the social suffering they endure. Improved coping strategies, self-acceptance, and community inclusion necessitate intervention programs for autistic people. This article presents a novel theoretical model, crucial to the occupational therapist's role in promoting social functioning. Autistic individuals' social pain experiences and their coping mechanisms are depicted in the model. Autistic individuals' personal narratives of social discomfort illuminate their need for engagement within social settings. This investigation suggests strategies for future intervention programs aimed at empowering autistic individuals in establishing meaningful social connections and improving their overall social integration within the community. The use of person-first versus identity-first language remains a subject of contention and debate, a factor we recognize. In our discourse, we've deliberately selected identity-first language, for two reasons. Autistic people, as indicated in Botha et al.'s (2021) research, prefer terms other than “person with autism.” Interview participants frequently opted to use the descriptor “autistic” during our discussions.
A significant divergence is highlighted by the research, encompassing the social needs of autistic people and the resultant social suffering they experience. Alantolactone mouse Autistic people need intervention programs to improve their ability to cope, embrace self-acceptance, and find greater inclusion within the community. Occupational therapy's focus on promoting social functioning is further enhanced by this article's contribution of a fresh theoretical model. Autistic individuals' social pain and their strategies for overcoming it are central to this model's representation. First-hand narratives of autistic individuals concerning social distress highlight their aspiration to integrate into social situations.