Experiences of Autistic Parents, from Conception to Raising Adult Children: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Authors

Abstract

Background: The objective of this review was to explore autistic experiences of parenthood, as described by autistic people, from conception to relationships with adult children. In addition, we sought to identify whether particular aspects of parenting and/or particular groups of parents are underrepresented in the already sparse literature on autistic parenting. Methods: We searched 10 key databases for articles that reported data on the perspectives and/or experiences of autistic people (formally diagnosed or self-identifying) at any stage of the parenting journey. Following the initial search, we undertook an iterative process of forward and backward searching until no additional relevant articles were identified. Results: We identified a total of 167 articles and included 44 articles in the review following title and abstract review and full-text review. This consisted of four review articles, 12 articles that reported on quantitative studies, and 28 that reported on qualitative studies, with 28 of the 44 included articles published in the past 3 years. Communication challenges were highlighted across the majority of the studies, particularly in relation to communication with health care and other services in relation to participants’ children. Sensory issues associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting were also common themes. However, studies also identified strengths of autistic parents including empathy with their child(ren), and a high degree of focus and commitment to child and family well-being. The majority of study participants were mothers, White, and parenting babies or young children. Conclusions: A consistent theme across the studies was the external nature of many of the challenges of autistic parenting and the internal nature of many of the strengths. It is perhaps not being an autistic parent that is in itself challenging, but rather the way that autistic parents are (mis)understood and (un)supported by systems designed for neurotypical parents.

1. Winnie Lau , Candida C. Peterson (2011). Adults and children with Asperger syndrome: Exploring adult attachment style, marital satisfaction and satisfaction with parenthood . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(1), 392-399. Elsevier BV.

   Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2010.06.001 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1986288125

   Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
2. Amber Makino , Laura Hartman , Gillian King , Pui Ying Wong , Melanie Penner (2021). Parent Experiences of Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis: a Scoping Review . Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 8(3), 267-284. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

   Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40489-021-00237-y OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3131779321

   Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
3. Rozanna Lilley , Wenn Lawson *Autistic author. Learn more… , Gabrielle Hall *Autistic author. Learn more… , Joanne Mahony , Hayley Clapham *Autistic author. Learn more… , Melanie Heyworth *Autistic author. Learn more… et al. (2023). “Peas in a pod”: Oral History Reflections on Autistic Identity in Family and Community by Late-Diagnosed Adults . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(3), 1146-1161. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

   Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05667-z OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4285385942

   AutiHub · Autistic Scholars Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
4. Vrinda V. Naicker , Simon M. Bury , Darren Hedley (2023). Factors associated with parental resolution of a child's autism diagnosis: A systematic review . Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 1079371. Frontiers Media SA.

   Type: Article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1079371 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4313561074

   Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
5. Rebecca Winnard , Mark Roy , Hannah Butler-Coyne (2022). Motherhood: Female Perspectives and Experiences of Being a Parent with ASC . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(5), 2314-2324. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

   Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05122-5 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3172915465

   Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
6. Dawn Eddings Prince (2010). An Exceptional Path: An Ethnographic Narrative Reflecting on Autistic Parenthood from Evolutionary, Cultural, and Spiritual Perspectives . Ethos, 38(1), 56-68. Wiley.

   Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/j.1548-1352.2009.01081.x OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2098468961

   Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
7. V. Enea , D. M. Rusu (2020). Raising a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature Investigating Parenting Stress . Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 13(4), 283-321. Informa UK Limited.

   Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/19315864.2020.1822962 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3095591246

   Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
8. Natalie Libster , Robin Harwood , Karen Meacham , Connie Kasari (2024). “I do my best to do right by her”: Autistic motherhood and the experience of raising a non-autistic adolescent daughter . Autism, 28(6), 1357-1368. SAGE Publications.

   Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/13623613241241577 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4393200063

   Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
9. Marcia Gardner , Patricia D. Suplee , Joan Bloch , Karen Lecks (2016). Exploratory Study of Childbearing Experiences of Women with Asperger Syndrome . Nursing for Women's Health, 20(1), 28-37. Elsevier BV.

   Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.nwh.2015.12.001 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2271567387

   Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
10. Ni’matuzahroh , Mein-Woei Suen , Valendriyani Ningrum , Widayat , Muhamad Salis Yuniardi , Nida Hasanati et al. (2021). The Association between Parenting Stress, Positive Reappraisal Coping, and Quality of Life in Parents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Children: A Systematic Review . Healthcare, 10(1), 52. MDPI AG.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10010052 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4200621081

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
11. Shenae Calleja , Fakir M. Amirul Islam , Jonathan Kingsley , Rachael McDonald (2020). Healthcare access for autistic adults . Medicine, 99(29), e20899. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health).

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000020899 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3043350455

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
12. Winnie Yu Pow Lau , Candida C. Peterson , Tony Attwood , Michelle S. Garnett , Adrian B. Kelly (2016). Parents on the autism continuum: Links with parenting efficacy . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 26, 57-64. Elsevier BV.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2016.02.007 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2299116198

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
13. Samantha Ault , Susan M. Breitenstein , Sharon Tucker , Susan M. Havercamp , Jodi L. Ford (2021). Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Rural Areas: A Literature Review of Mental Health and Social Support . Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 61, 229-239. Elsevier BV.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.06.009 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3173520560

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
14. Cath Rogers , Laurence Lepherd , Rahul Ganguly , Sebastian Jacob-Rogers (2017). Perinatal issues for women with high functioning autism spectrum disorder . Women and Birth, 30(2), e89-e95. Elsevier BV.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2016.09.009 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2538341212

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
15. Parisa Ghanouni , Graham Hood (2021). Stress, Coping, and Resiliency Among Families of Individuals with Autism: a Systematic Review . Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 8(3), 389-402. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40489-021-00245-y OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3134938180

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
16. Adam Smith (2009). The Empathy Imbalance Hypothesis of Autism: A Theoretical Approach to Cognitive and Emotional Empathy in Autistic Development . The Psychological Record, 59(3), 489-510. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/bf03395675 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4245738912

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
17. Tanya C. Burton (2016). Exploring the experiences of pregnancy, birth and parenting of mothers with autism spectrum disorder . Staffordshire Online Repository (Staffordshire University).

    Type: Dissertation OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2583219414

    Crossref OpenAlex
18. Kenneth Curley , Rory Colman , Annabel Rushforth , Yasuhiro Kotera (2023). Stress Reduction Interventions for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Focused Literature Review . Youth, 3(1), 246-260. MDPI AG.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.3390/youth3010017 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4320916874

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
19. Aimee Grant *Autistic author. Learn more… , Sara Jones , Kathryn Williams *Autistic author. Learn more… , Jennifer Leigh , Amy Brown (2022). Autistic women’s views and experiences of infant feeding: A systematic review of qualitative evidence . Autism, 26(6), 1341-1352. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/13623613221089374 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4223499070

    AutiHub · Autistic Scholars Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
20. Caroline Treweek , Chantelle Wood , Jilly Martin , Megan Freeth (2019). Autistic people’s perspectives on stereotypes: An interpretative phenomenological analysis . Autism, 23(3), 759-769. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1362361318778286 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2802267269

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
21. Büşra Yılmaz , Merve Azak , Nevin Şahin (2021). Mental health of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder during COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review . World Journal of Psychiatry, 11(7), 388-402. Baishideng Publishing Group Inc..

    Type: Article DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v11.i7.388 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3185946581

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
22. A. L. Pohl , S. K. Crockford , M. Blakemore , Carrie Allison , Simon Baron-Cohen (2020). A comparative study of autistic and non-autistic women’s experience of motherhood . Molecular Autism, 11(1), 3. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0304-2 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3000239743

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
23. Michelle L Litchman , MJ Tran , Susan E Dearden , Jia-Wen Guo , Sara E Simonsen , Lauren Clark (2019). What Women With Disabilities Write in Personal Blogs About Pregnancy and Early Motherhood: Qualitative Analysis of Blogs . JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, 2(1), e12355. JMIR Publications Inc..

    Type: Article DOI: 10.2196/12355 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2913885895

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
24. Gemma Davy , Katy Unwin , Josephine Barbaro , Cheryl Dissanayake (2022). Leisure, employment, community participation and quality of life in caregivers of autistic children: A scoping review . Autism, 26(8), 1916-1930. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/13623613221105836 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4283694509

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
25. Se Kwang Hwang , Philip Heslop (2023). Autistic Parents’ Personal Experiences of Parenting and Support: Messages from an Online Focus Group . The British Journal of Social Work, 53(1), 276-295. Oxford University Press (OUP).

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1093/bjsw/bcac133 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4288429599

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
26. Sarah Griffiths , Carrie Allison , Rebecca Kenny , Rosemary Holt , Paula Smith , Simon Baron-Cohen (2019). The Vulnerability Experiences Quotient (VEQ): A Study of Vulnerability, Mental Health and Life Satisfaction in Autistic Adults . Autism Research, 12(10), 1516-1528. Wiley.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/aur.2162 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2949176131

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
27. Dawn Turnage , Norma Conner (2022). Quality of life of parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An integrative literature review . Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 27(4), e12391-e12391. Wiley.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/jspn.12391 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4292485250

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
28. Amber-Sophie Dugdale , Andrew R. Thompson , Alexandra Leedham , Nigel Beail , Megan Freeth (2021). Intense connection and love: The experiences of autistic mothers . Autism, 25(7), 1973-1984. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/13623613211005987 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3154030996

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
29. Xiaoli Liao , Yamin Li (2020). Economic burdens on parents of children with autism: a literature review . CNS Spectrums, 25(4), 468-474. Cambridge University Press (CUP).

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1017/s1092852919001512 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2987978580

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
30. Noor Shuhada Salleh , Khatijah Lim Abdullah , Tang Li Yoong , Subhashini Jayanath , Maruzairi Husain (2020). Parents' Experiences of Affiliate Stigma when Caring for a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies . Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 55, 174-183. Elsevier BV.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2020.09.002 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3087553769

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
31. Michelle Lum , Michelle Garnett , Erin O’Connor (2014). Health communication: A pilot study comparing perceptions of women with and without high functioning autism spectrum disorder . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8(12), 1713-1721. Elsevier BV.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2014.09.009 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1500757049

    Crossref OpenCitations
32. Emily Taylor , Rosemary Holt , Teresa Tavassoli , Chris Ashwin , Simon Baron-Cohen (2020). Revised scored Sensory Perception Quotient reveals sensory hypersensitivity in women with autism . Molecular Autism, 11(1), 1. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0289-x OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2996364872

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
33. Christina G. McDonnell , Elizabeth A. DeLucia (2021). Pregnancy and Parenthood Among Autistic Adults: Implications for Advancing Maternal Health and Parental Well-Being . Autism in Adulthood, 3(1), 100-115. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1089/aut.2020.0046 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3118997953

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
34. Dawn Adams , Madeline Stainsby , Jessica Paynter (2021). Autistic Mothers of Autistic Children: A Preliminary Study in an Under-Researched Area . Autism in Adulthood, 3(4), 339-346. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1089/aut.2020.0078 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3154093069

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
35. Jane Donovan (2020). Childbirth Experiences of Women With Autism Spectrum Disorder in an Acute Care Setting . Nursing for Women's Health, 24(3), 165-174. Elsevier BV.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.nwh.2020.04.001 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3020995319

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
36. Jessy Erin Fletcher-Randle (2022). Where are all the Autistic Parents? A Thematic Analysis of Autistic Parenting Discourse within the Narrative of Parenting and Autism in Online Media . Studies in Social Justice, 16(2), 389-406. Brock University Library.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.26522/ssj.v16i2.2701 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4220711464

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
37. M. Ariel Cascio , Jonathan A. Weiss , Éric Racine (2021). Making Autism Research Inclusive by Attending to Intersectionality: a Review of the Research Ethics Literature . Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 8(1), 22-36. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40489-020-00204-z OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3025970378

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
38. Sarah Grant *Autistic author. Learn more… , Sam Norton , Ricarda F. Weiland , Anke Scheeren , Sander Begeer , Rosa A. Hoekstra (2022). Autism and chronic ill health: an observational study of symptoms and diagnoses of central sensitivity syndromes in autistic adults . Molecular Autism, 13(1), 7-7. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1186/s13229-022-00486-6 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4225687293

    AutiHub · Autistic Scholars Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
39. Temple S. Lovelace , Mary P. Comis , JoVonne M. Tabb , Olajumoke E. Oshokoya (2022). Missing from the Narrative: A Seven-Decade Scoping Review of the Inclusion of Black Autistic Women and Girls in Autism Research . Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15(4), 1093-1105. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40617-021-00654-9 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3177117256

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
40. Karys M. Normansell-Mossa , D. Nicholas Top , Nicholas Russell , Mark Freeston , Jacqui Rodgers , Mikle South (2021). Sensory Sensitivity and Intolerance of Uncertainty Influence Anxiety in Autistic Adults . Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 731753-731753. Frontiers Media SA.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.731753 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3214594827

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
41. Alan Pearson , Zoe Jordan , Alexa McArthur , Silvia Florescu , Adam Cooper , H Yan et al. (2024). Systematic reviews of textual evidence: narrative, expert opinion or policy . In JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. JBI.

    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.46658/jbimes-24-04 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4395098346

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
42. Maria Strömberg , Lina Liman , Peter Bang , Kajsa Igelström (2022). Experiences of Sensory Overload and Communication Barriers by Autistic Adults in Health Care Settings . Autism in Adulthood, 4(1), 66-75. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1089/aut.2020.0074 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3205684935

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
43. Anahita Shokrkon , Elena Nicoladis (2022). The Directionality of the Relationship Between Executive Functions and Language Skills: A Literature Review . Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 848696-848696. Frontiers Media SA.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.848696 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4285795214

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
44. Rosaria Ferrara , Pasquale Ricci , Felice Marco Damato , Leonardo Iovino , Lidia Ricci , Giovanni Cicinelli et al. (2023). Pregnancy in autistic women and social medical considerations: scoping review and meta- synthesis . Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1222127-1222127. Frontiers Media SA.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1222127 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4387968443

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
45. Laura Crane , Lok Man Lui , Jade Davies , Elizabeth Pellicano (2021). Autistic parents’ views and experiences of talking about autism with their autistic children . Autism, 25(4), 1161-1167. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1362361320981317 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3120478003

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
46. Priscilla Samuel , Rui Ying Yew , Merrilyn Hooley , Martha Hickey , Mark A. Stokes (2022). Sensory challenges experienced by autistic women during pregnancy and childbirth: a systematic review . Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 305(2), 299-311. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s00404-021-06109-4 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3165860750

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
47. Anila M. D'Mello , Isabelle R. Frosch , Cindy E. Li , Annie L. Cardinaux , John D.E. Gabrieli (2022). Exclusion of females in autism research: Empirical evidence for a “leaky” recruitment‐to‐research pipeline . Autism Research, 15(10), 1929-1940. Wiley.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/aur.2795 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4292601991

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
48. Aromataris EFR (2020). JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis . JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis.

    Type: Other

    Crossref
49. Moola S Mz (2020). JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis..

    Type: Other

    Crossref
50. Christine Wu Nordahl (2023). Why do we need sex‐balanced studies of autism? Autism Research, 16(9), 1662-1669. Wiley.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/aur.2971 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4382501550

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
51. Craig Lockwood , Kylie Porritt , Zachary Munn , Leslie Rittenmeyer , Susan Salmond , Merete Bjerrum et al. (2024). Systematic reviews of qualitative evidence . In JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. JBI.

    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.46658/jbimes-24-02 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4395098303

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
52. Ash Routen , Danielle Bodicoat , Andrew Willis , Shaun Treweek , Sandra Paget , Kamlesh Khunti (2022). Tackling the lack of diversity in health research . British Journal of General Practice, 72(722), 444-447. Royal College of General Practitioners.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.3399/bjgp22x720665 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4294132519

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
53. Jane C. Wilson , Bri Andrassy (2022). Breastfeeding Experiences of Autistic Women . MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 47(1), 19-24. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health).

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1097/nmc.0000000000000779 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3201738451

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
54. Elizabeth Pellicano , Simon Brett , Jacquiline den Houting *Autistic author. Learn more… , Melanie Heyworth *Autistic author. Learn more… , Iliana Magiati , Robyn Steward *Autistic author. Learn more… et al. (2022). COVID-19, social isolation and the mental health of autistic people and their families: A qualitative study . Autism, 26(4), 914-927. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/13623613211035936 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3193139887

    AutiHub · Autistic Scholars Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
55. Moyna Catherine Talcer , Orla Duffy , Katy Pedlow (2023). A Qualitative Exploration into the Sensory Experiences of Autistic Mothers . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(2), 834-849. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05188-1 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3182387516

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
56. Elise Marriott , James Stacey , Olivia Mary Hewitt , Nienke E. Verkuijl (2022). Parenting an Autistic Child: Experiences of Parents with Significant Autistic Traits . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(7), 3182-3193. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05182-7 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3183669747

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
57. Sarah Hampton , Joyce Man , Carrie Allison , Ezra Aydin , Simon Baron-Cohen , Rosemary Holt (2023). A qualitative exploration of autistic mothers’ experiences I: Pregnancy experiences . Autism, 27(5), 1271-1282. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/13623613221132435 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4308054428

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
58. Benedetta Demartini , Veronica Nisticò , Serena Limonta , Vincenza Tarantino , Giulia Stefanelli , Federica Calistro et al. (2024). Long-term Memory of Sensory Experiences from the First Pregnancy, its Peri-partum and Post-partum in Women with Autism Spectrum Disorders without Intellectual Disabilities: A Retrospective Study . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 54(12), 4709-4718. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06189-y OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4388702781

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
59. Sarah Hampton , Joyce Man , Carrie Allison , Ezra Aydin , Simon Baron-Cohen , Rosemary Holt (2022). A qualitative exploration of autistic mothers’ experiences II: Childbirth and postnatal experiences . Autism, 26(5), 1165-1175. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/13623613211043701 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3197073506

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
60. Aimee Grant *Autistic author. Learn more… , Catrin Griffiths , Kathryn Williams *Autistic author. Learn more… , Amy Brown (2024). “It felt like I had an old fashioned telephone ringing in my breasts”: An online survey of UK Autistic birthing parents' experiences of infant feeding . Maternal & Child Nutrition, 20(1), e13581-e13581. Wiley.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13581 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4388230695

    AutiHub · Autistic Scholars Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
61. Laura Foran Lewis , Hannah Schirling , Emma Beaudoin , Hannah Scheibner , Alexa Cestrone (2021). Exploring the Birth Stories of Women on the Autism Spectrum . Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 50(6), 679-690. Elsevier BV.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2021.08.099 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3201491317

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
62. Melanie Heyworth *Autistic author. Learn more… , Simon Brett , Jacquiline den Houting *Autistic author. Learn more… , Iliana Magiati , Robyn Steward *Autistic author. Learn more… , Anna Urbanowicz et al. (2021). “It just fits my needs better”: Autistic students and parents’ experiences of learning from home during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic . Autism & Developmental Language Impairments, 6, 23969415211057681-23969415211057681. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/23969415211057681 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4205879872

    AutiHub · Autistic Scholars Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
63. Sarah Hampton , Carrie Allison , Ezra Aydin , Simon Baron-Cohen , Rosemary Holt (2022). Autistic mothers’ perinatal well-being and parenting styles . Autism, 26(7), 1805-1820. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/13623613211065544 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4210242117

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
64. Donovan J (2017). The Experiences of Autistic Women during Childbirth in the Acute Care Setting [Ph.D.]. The Experiences of Autistic Women during Childbirth in the Acute Care Setting [Ph.D.]..

    Type: Other

    Crossref
65. Sarah Hampton , Carrie Allison , Simon Baron-Cohen , Rosemary Holt (2024). Autistic People’s Perinatal Experiences I: A Survey of Pregnancy Experiences . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 54(1), 211-223. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05754-1 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4306810367

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
66. Katherine Gore , Susan Hayward , Rebecca L. Flower , Melissa Gilbert , Josephine Barbaro (2024). “Maybe No One Knows We Need Help”: Understanding the Experiences of Autistic Working Mothers in Australia . Autism in Adulthood, 6(1), 47-59. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1089/aut.2022.0089 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4376637938

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
67. Sarah Hampton , Carrie Allison , Simon Baron-Cohen , Rosemary Holt (2023). Autistic People’s Perinatal Experiences II: A Survey of Childbirth and Postnatal Experiences . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(7), 2749-2763. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05484-4 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4224257827

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
68. (2020). JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis . JBI.

    Type: Book DOI: 10.46658/jbimes-20-01 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4238666307

    OpenAlex
69. Murphy S (2021). The pros and cons of being an autistic parent . Good Autism Practice, 22(1), 87.

    Type: Other

    Crossref
70. Grove R (2023). Living in a world that’s not about us’: The impact of everyday life on the health and wellbeing of autistic women and gender diverse people . Womens Health (Lond), 19, 174550572311895.

    Type: Other

    Crossref
71. Melanie Heyworth *Autistic author. Learn more… , Simon Brett , Jacquiline den Houting *Autistic author. Learn more… , Iliana Magiati , Robyn Steward *Autistic author. Learn more… , Anna Urbanowicz et al. (2023). “I'm the Family Ringmaster and Juggler”: Autistic Parents' Experiences of Parenting During the COVID-19 Pandemic . Autism in Adulthood, 5(1), 24-36. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1089/aut.2021.0097 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4280653010

    AutiHub · Autistic Scholars Crossref
72. Damian Milton *Autistic author. Learn more… , Emine Gürbüz , Beatriz López (2022). The ‘double empathy problem’: Ten years on . Autism, 26(8), 1901-1903. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/13623613221129123 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4306860573

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
73. Sarah Radev *Autistic author. Learn more… , Megan Freeth , Andrew R. Thompson (2024). ‘I’m not just being difficult... I’m finding it difficult’: A qualitative approach to understanding experiences of autistic parents when interacting with statutory services regarding their autistic child . Autism, 28(6), 1394-1404. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/13623613231212794 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4388972762

    AutiHub · Autistic Scholars Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
74. Katy Johanna Benson (2023). Perplexing Presentations: Compulsory Neuronormativity and Cognitive Marginalisation in Social Work Practice with Autistic Mothers of Autistic Children . The British Journal of Social Work, 53(3), 1445-1464. Oxford University Press (OUP).

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1093/bjsw/bcac229 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4321371598

    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
75. Sandra Thom-Jones *Autistic author. Learn more… , Imogen Melgaard , Chloe S. Gordon (2025). Autistic Women’s Experience of Motherhood: A Qualitative Analysis of Reddit . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55(7), 2539-2549. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06312-7 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4395677945

    AutiHub · Autistic Scholars Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
76. Donovan J (2023). “Yes, I can bond.” Reflections of autistic women’s mothering experiences in the early postpartum period . Womens Health (Lond), 19, 174550572311753.

    Type: Other

    Crossref
77. Simone Smit , Jeremy Hopper (2023). Love, Joy, and a Lens of Childhood Trauma: Exploring Factors That Impact the Mental Health and Well-Being of Autistic Parents via Iterative Phenomenological Analysis . Autism in Adulthood, 5(1), 63-75. SAGE Publications.

    Type: Article DOI: 10.1089/aut.2021.0101 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4296703617

    Crossref
78. Sanchez P (2023). ‘Against the norm’ mothering: A reflexive thematic analysis of autistic motherhood [Ph.D.]. United Kingdom . ‘Against the norm’ mothering: A reflexive thematic analysis of autistic motherhood [Ph.D.]. United Kingdom.

    Type: Other

    Crossref
79. Hernández González O (2024). The childbearing and mental health experiences of autistic mothers: A systematic review . Inter J Developmental Disab, 1.

    Type: Other

    Crossref
80. (n.d.). e_1_3_4_79_2

    Type: Other DOI: 10.1089/aut.2023.001 Crossref: not found DataCite: not found

    Crossref