Safety, Connection, and Communication: Qualitative Insights into the Multidimensionality of Autistic Stimming

Authors

Abstract

Background: Autistic stimming (e.g., repetitive movements or vocalizations) is often misunderstood or pathologized in clinical and public discourse. This study explores how Autistic adults perceive and experience stimming, including its personal meaning, emotional significance, social dimensions, and role in identity. We examine perspectives on both one’s own stimming and stimming observed in others, moving beyond reductive behavioral framings to understand its multidimensional roles in Autistic life. In this study, we explored how Autistic adults perceive and experience stimming in their daily lives. Methods: We used a multimodal participatory-qualitative framework to conduct semistructured Zoom interviews with 15 Autistic adults from diverse, intersectional backgrounds. Interviewers shared possible topics in advance and supported multimodal communication during sessions. We analyzed the data using an integrated sequential approach that combined framework analysis with reflexive thematic analysis. Results: We identified three primary themes: (1) Identity and Self-Perception of Stimming, which described stimming as central to self-recognition and identity development. (2) Navigating Safety and Trust, which highlighted how participants masked stims as a strategic decision. (3) Stimming as Connection and Communication, which illustrated the relational and communicative dimensions of stimming. Participants described stimming as essential to emotional regulation, cognitive processing, and authentic self-expression. They also reported that their willingness and openness to stim depended on their perceptions of safety and social acceptance. In environments lacking these conditions, participants masked and selectively disclosed their identities. Conclusions: Our findings position stimming as a multidimensional expression embedded within Autistic identity and sociality. Based on these insights, we call for interventions, supports, and narratives that affirm stimming’s expressive and relational functions. This study also highlights the value of participatory research methods in capturing the nuanced lived experiences of Autistic people.

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