Body appreciation mediates the association between satisfaction with autistic identity and flourishing in autistic adults

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Longhurst, P., Aspell, J. E., Todd, J., & Swami, V. (2025). Body appreciation mediates the association between satisfaction with autistic identity and flourishing in autistic adults. Body Image, 53, 101876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.101876

Publication date: 19 Mar 2025 Added to AutiHub: 28 Sep 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
4
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 4 (25.0%)
  1. Phaedra Longhurst *
  2. Jane E. Aspell
  3. Jennifer Todd
  4. Viren Swami

Abstract

Underpinned by the neurodiversity paradigm, scholars are increasingly interested in relationships between positive autistic identity (i.e., feeling satisfaction and pride with being autistic) and states of flourishing (i.e., where numerous aspects of a person's life and well-being are good) in autistic people. However, possible mediational pathways between these constructs remain relatively under-researched. Here, we propose a conceptual model wherein positive autistic identity is associated with flourishing in autistic adults via positive body image. To test this model, we recruited an online sample of 384 autistic adults (189 women, 195 men; M = 34.66 years, SD = 10.77) from the United Kingdom. Participants were asked to complete measures of satisfaction with autistic identity, body appreciation, and flourishing, and provide their demographic information. Structural equation modelling showed that body appreciation mediated the association between satisfaction with autistic identity and flourishing. The mediational triangle remained significantly robust after controlling for participant demographics. Future research should consider promoting positive autistic identity as a means of developing more positive body image and capacities to flourish in autistic adults.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 01:40.

Cited references
50
With a DOI
45
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
5
13 / 50 (26.0%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
1 / 50 (2.0%)
References with detected author names
49 / 50 (98.0%)
Without detected author names
1
Without a structured title
1
Without a stable identifier
5
References with raw author names still to review
1
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
169
From DOI or external metadata
169
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
1
89 / 169 (52.7%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 80 / 169 (47.3%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
21 / 169 (12.4%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 21 / 89 (23.6%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 15 / 146 (10.3%).
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