“In a State of Flow”: A Qualitative Examination of Autistic Adults' Phenomenological Experiences of Task Immersion

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Rapaport, H., Clapham, H., Adams, J., Lawson, W., Porayska‐Pomsta, K., & Pellicano, E. (2023). “In a State of Flow”: A Qualitative Examination of Autistic Adults' Phenomenological Experiences of Task Immersion. Autism in Adulthood, 6(3), 362-373. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2023.0032

Publication date: 20 Dec 2023 Added to AutiHub: 4 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
6
Publication authors identified as autistic
3 / 6 (50.0%)
  1. Hannah Rapaport
  2. Hayley Clapham *
  3. Jonathan Adams *
  1. Wenn Lawson *
  2. Kaśka Porayska‐Pomsta
  3. Elizabeth Pellicano

Abstract

Background: There is considerable conceptual overlap between Autistic hyperfocus and flow, yet these phenomena have seldom been associated in the literature. Moreover, no studies have provided an in-depth empirical investigation of Autistic people's flow-like or hyperfocus experiences. In this study, we sought to address this gap by investigating Autistic people's phenomenological experiences of task immersion, and how their experiences relate to existing conceptualizations of flow, hyperfocus, and monotropism. Methods: To address this aim, we drew on data from a broader qualitative study, designed in partnership with Autistic community members, to understand Autistic people's experiences of Autistic inertia. For that broader study, Autistic and non-Autistic researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 Autistic adults about their everyday experiences of starting and stopping tasks. During these interviews, participants repeatedly discussed their experiences of task immersion and the benefits and challenges associated with it. We analyzed these responses specifically, using reflexive thematic analysis, adopting a combination of deductive and inductive approaches within an essentialist framework. Results: Our participants' accounts closely matched conceptual understandings of flow, Autistic hyperfocus, and monotropism. Specifically, the analysis revealed the all-encompassing nature of task immersion experiences, and how it could be difficult to "find the balance" between the joy and other aspects of everyday life. Despite the drawbacks, participants were glad to be immersed because they felt they could be themselves, with no pretences. Conclusions: These results are important for reframing task immersion as a state of great potential value to Autistic people's lives, but one that may require additional support if it is to play its role in enabling Autistic people to flourish.

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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
38
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
10 / 38 (26.3%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
19 / 103 (18.4%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 19 / 61 (31.1%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 16 / 92 (17.4%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
61 / 103 (59.2%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 52 / 92 (56.5%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
42 / 61 (68.9%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 42 / 103 (40.8%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 36 / 52 (69.2%).
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