Understanding phenomenological experiences of autistic inertia using online community discourse

Metadata sources used for this reference

OpenAlex Crossref
Learn more about the sources used

Ward, T., Popazov, S., Adams, J., Clapham, H., Lawson, W., Karaminis, T., & Pellicano, E. (2026). Understanding phenomenological experiences of autistic inertia using online community discourse. Communications Psychology, 4(1), 18-18. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-025-00386-4

Publication date: 20 Jan 2026 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
OpenAlex source Publisher source (DOI) Full text

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
7
Publication authors identified as autistic
3 / 7 (42.9%)
  1. Tara Ward
  2. Sonia Popazov
  3. Jonathan Adams *
  4. Hayley Clapham *
  1. Wenn Lawson *
  2. Themis Karaminis
  3. Elizabeth Pellicano

Abstract

The term 'inertia' refers to the seemingly common Autistic experience of remaining in a state of rest or a state of motion until there is some form of external intervention. While a heavily discussed phenomenon in the Autistic community, it has been scarcely acknowledged in the academic literature. The present study aimed to advance knowledge of Autistic inertia by analysing a large qualitative sample of naturalistic discourse on the topic from Autistic online communities on the social media platform, 'Reddit'. We identified 501 relevant posts shared between 2005 and 2023, including 9,955 comments. We analysed the posts using reflexive thematic analysis with an inductive approach. We identified four themes, centred on the "all or nothing" extremes of inertia (Theme 1), the range of factors that intersect with and exacerbate it (Theme 2), its joyful and often highly-disabling impacts (Theme 3), and the varied ways in which Reddit users manage it (Theme 4). Our findings corroborated those from existing interview-based studies and also uncovered additional insights, elaborating on 'the vicious cycle' of inertia, its fatiguing effects and its interaction with other commonly co-occurring conditions. We discuss these less-reported experiences and identify what we know - and are still yet to understand - about the key features of Autistic inertia.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:30.

Cited references
50
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
16 / 50 (32.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
40 / 178 (22.5%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 40 / 111 (36.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 27 / 152 (17.8%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
111 / 178 (62.4%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 85 / 152 (55.9%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
71 / 111 (64.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 71 / 178 (39.9%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 58 / 85 (68.2%).
  1. Robert J. Fortuna , Laura Robinson , Tristram H. Smith , Jon Meccarello , Beth Bullen , Kathryn Nobis et al. (2016). Health Conditions and Functional Status in Adults with Autism: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation . Journal of General Internal Medicine, 31(1), 77-84. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s11606-015-3509-x OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1650072402
    Crossref OpenAlex
  7. E Newson (2003). Pathological demand avoidance syndrome: a necessary distinction within the pervasive developmental disorders . Archives of Disease in Childhood, 88(7), 595-600. BMJ.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1136/adc.88.7.595 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2162548254
    Crossref OpenAlex
  9. Munmun De Choudhury , Sushovan De (2014). Mental Health Discourse on reddit: Self-Disclosure, Social Support, and Anonymity . Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 8(1), 71-80. Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1609/icwsm.v8i1.14526 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2182854643
    Crossref OpenAlex
  10. Vikram K. Jaswal , Nameera Akhtar (2019). Being versus appearing socially uninterested: Challenging assumptions about social motivation in autism . Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 42, Article e82, 1. Cambridge University Press (CUP).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x18001826 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2809138493
    Crossref
  11. Michela Del Vicario , Alessandro Bessi , Fabiana Zollo , Fabio Petroni , Antonio Scala , Guido Caldarelli et al. (2016). The spreading of misinformation online . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(3), 554-559. National Academy of Sciences.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1517441113 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2232384272
    Crossref OpenAlex
  12. David J. Hess (2016). Undone Science . The MIT Press.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.7551/mitpress/9780262035132.001.0001 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4247951491
    Crossref OpenAlex
  13. Agnieszka Butwicka , Niklas Långström , Henrik Larsson , Sebastian Lundström , Eva Serlachius , Catarina Almqvist et al. (2017). Increased Risk for Substance Use-Related Problems in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Population-Based Cohort Study . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(1), 80-89. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2914-2 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2531630191
    Crossref OpenAlex
  14. David Jackson‐Perry (2025). Unknowing in Practice: The Promise of Discomfort, Failure and Uncertainty in Neurodiversity Studies . Neurodiversity, 3, 1. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/27546330251348083 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4410923110
    Crossref OpenAlex
  15. Matthew L Williams , Pete Burnap , Luke Sloan (2017). Towards an Ethical Framework for Publishing Twitter Data in Social Research: Taking into Account Users’ Views, Online Context and Algorithmic Estimation . Sociology, 51(6), 1149-1168. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/0038038517708140 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2607331267
    Crossref OpenAlex
  16. Dekker, M. On our own terms: emerging autistic culture. Autism99 (1999). http://www.autscape.org/2015/programme/handouts/Autistic-Culture-07-Oct-1999.pdf
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  19. Matthew J Hollocks , Jian Wei Lerh , Iliana Magiati , Richard Meiser-Stedman , Traolach Brugha (2019). Anxiety and depression in adults with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis . Psychological Medicine, 49(4), 559-572. Cambridge University Press (CUP).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1017/s0033291718002283 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2889987209
    Crossref OpenAlex
  21. Pia Bradshaw , Elizabeth Pellicano , Mieke van Driel , Anna Urbanowicz (2019). How Can We Support the Healthcare Needs of Autistic Adults Without Intellectual Disability? Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 6(2), 45-56. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s40474-019-00159-9 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2944177211
    Crossref OpenAlex
  22. Christie Welch , Deb Cameron , Margaret Fitch , Helene Polatajko (2021). Living in autistic bodies: bloggers discuss movement control and arousal regulation . Disability and Rehabilitation, 43(22), 3159-3167. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1729872 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3008924182
    Crossref OpenAlex
  23. Isaac Newton (1687). Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica . Jussu Societatis Regiae ac Typis Josephi Streater. Prostat apud plures bibliopolas.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.5479/sil.52126.39088015628399 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2945914100
    Crossref OpenAlex
  24. Jasmine Phung , Melanie Penner , Clémentine Pirlot , Christie Welch (2021). What I Wish You Knew: Insights on Burnout, Inertia, Meltdown, and Shutdown From Autistic Youth . Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 741421-741421. Frontiers Media SA.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.741421 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3210845099
    Crossref OpenAlex
  25. Virginia Braun , Victoria Clarke (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis . Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589-597. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/2159676x.2019.1628806 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2950504429
    Crossref OpenAlex
  27. Brandon K. Ashinoff , Ahmad Abu-Akel (2021). Hyperfocus: the forgotten frontier of attention . Psychological Research, 85(1), 1-19. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s00426-019-01245-8 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2974079557
    Crossref OpenAlex
  28. Iris Schneid , Aviad E. Raz (2020). The mask of autism: Social camouflaging and impression management as coping/normalization from the perspectives of autistic adults . Social Science & Medicine, 248, 112826. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112826 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3003216866
    Crossref OpenAlex
  29. Reddit. User agreement – September 25, 2023. reddit (2023). https://www.redditinc.com/policies/user-agreement-september-25-2023
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  31. N Proferes (2021). Proferes, N., Jones, N., Gilbert, S., Fiesler, C. & Zimmer, M. Studying reddit: a systematic overview of disciplines, approaches, methods, and ethics. Soc. Media Soc. 7, 205630512110190 (2021). Soc. Media Soc., 7, 205630512110190.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  32. Jane D McLeod , Amelia Hawbaker , Emily Meanwell (2021). The health of college students on the autism spectrum as compared to their neurotypical peers . Autism, 25(3), 719-730. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1362361320926070 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3036528418
    Crossref OpenAlex
  33. Ying Rong , Chang-Jiang Yang , Ye Jin , Yue Wang (2021). Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 83, 101759. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101759 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3135679521
    Crossref OpenAlex
  34. David Mason , Barry Ingham , Heather Birtles , Cos Michael , Clare Scarlett , Ian A. James et al. (2021). How to improve healthcare for autistic people: A qualitative study of the views of autistic people and clinicians . Autism, 25(3), 774-785. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1362361321993709 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3159192570
    Crossref OpenAlex
  35. Miserandino, C. The spoon theory (2003). https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  37. (n.d.). Lawson, W. The passionate mind: How people with autism learn (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2011). https://books.google.com.au/books?id=HFwSBQAAQBAJ
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  38. Elizabeth M Weir , Carrie Allison , Simon Baron-Cohen (2021). Understanding the substance use of autistic adolescents and adults: a mixed-methods approach . The Lancet Psychiatry, 8(8), 673-685. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00160-7 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3174426852
    Crossref OpenAlex
  39. Jane Mantzalas , Amanda L. Richdale , Achini Adikari , Jennifer Lowe , Cheryl Dissanayake (2022). What Is Autistic Burnout? A Thematic Analysis of Posts on Two Online Platforms . Autism in Adulthood, 4(1), 52-65. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1089/aut.2021.0021 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3198962696
    Crossref OpenAlex
  40. Murray, F. Me and monotropism: a unified theory of autism. The Psychologist (2018). https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/me-and-monotropism-unified-theory-autism
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  42. S. Keville , C. Meek , A. K. Ludlow (2021). Mothers’ perspectives of co-occurring fatigue in children with autism spectrum disorders . Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior, 9(4), 209-226. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/21641846.2021.2008169 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3216857757
    Crossref OpenAlex
  44. Wilding, T. What is demand avoidance, and when is it pathological? (2019). https://tomlinwilding.com/what-is-demand-avoidance-and-when-is-it-pathological/
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  46. (n.d.). Cat, S. PDA by PDAers: From Anxiety to Avoidance and Masking to meltdowns (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2018).
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  48. Virginia Morini , Maria Sansoni , Giulio Rossetti , Dino Pedreschi , Carlos Castillo (2025). Participant behavior and community response in online mental health communities: Insights from Reddit . Computers in Human Behavior, 165, 108544. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2024.108544 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4405740618
    Crossref OpenAlex
  49. (n.d.). Paul, J. Order from chaos: The everyday grind of staying organized with adult ADHD (Summit to Sea, 2019).
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  50. (n.d.). Shah, A. Catatonia, shutdown and breakdown in autism (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019).
    Type: Other
    Crossref