Comparing narrative writing of autistic and non-autistic College students

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Shevchuk-Hill, S., Szczupakiewicz, S., Kofner, B., & Gillespie-Lynch, K. (2022). Comparing narrative writing of autistic and non-autistic College students. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(10), 3901-3915. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05516-z

Publication date: 4 Aug 2022 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
4
Publication authors identified as autistic
0 / 4 (0.0%)
  1. Sergey Shevchuk-Hill
  2. Shana Szczupakiewicz
  3. Bella Kofner
  4. Kristen Gillespie-Lynch

Abstract

We compared short stories by autistic (n = 19) and non-autistic (n = 23) university students. We used automated software and content analysis to code students' stories. We found that writings were more similar than different. However, autistic students' stories were rated at a higher reading level (p = .013) than non-autistic students'. Autistic students' stories contained fewer grammatical errors (p = .02) but were less likely to include a climax (p = .026). Autistic students reported more positive writing affect than non-autistic students (p = .026). Higher writing affect was associated with writing highly fictional texts (p = .03) that contained more sentences (p = .005). Findings suggest writing may be a strength for autistic students and opportunities to write creatively may promote positive affect toward writing.

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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
62
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
7 / 62 (11.3%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
8 / 149 (5.4%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 8 / 57 (14.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 6 / 129 (4.7%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
57 / 149 (38.3%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 45 / 129 (34.9%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
49 / 57 (86.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 49 / 149 (32.9%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 39 / 45 (86.7%).
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