Confirming the nature of autistic burnout

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Arnold, S. R. C., Higgins, J. M., Weise, J., Desai, A., Pellicano, E., & Trollor, J. (2023). Confirming the nature of autistic burnout. Autism, 27(7), 1906-1918. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221147410

Publication date: 13 Jan 2023 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
6
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 6 (16.7%)
  1. Samuel R. C. Arnold
  2. Julianne M. Higgins *
  3. Janelle Weise
  1. Aishani Desai
  2. Elizabeth Pellicano
  3. Julian Trollor

Abstract

Autistic burnout is an experience commonly described by autistic people (#AutBurnout and #AutisticBurnout on social media). Recently, two definitions of this syndrome have been published. Both describe debilitating exhaustion with onset related to various stressors including masking, though several differences exist, such as the characteristic of interpersonal withdrawal. We sought to explore the content validity of these definitions including duration and frequency criteria, using descriptive statistics, content analysis and reflexive thematic analysis. A co-produced survey of 141 autistic adults with experience of autistic burnout showed strong endorsement of the definition by Higgins et al., where exhaustion and interpersonal withdrawal occur alongside reduced functioning, executive functioning difficulties, and increased manifestation of autistic traits. Duration and frequency criteria were unresolved, with qualitative data highlighting varying (both acute and chronic) experiences. Autistic burnout is frequently misdiagnosed as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder or other conditions. Work is needed to increase community and clinician awareness, as well as initiatives to improve unaccommodating neurotypical environments. More research and validation are needed in larger samples not restricted to autistic adults who have experienced autistic burnout to determine prevalence and risk factors as well as duration and frequency. Lay abstract Autistic burnout is something autistic people have been talking about for a while (see #AutBurnout and #AutisticBurnout on social media). Recently, researchers published two different definitions of autistic burnout. We wanted to test these definitions. We wanted to confirm the duration and frequency of autistic burnout. That is, how long and how often do people get autistic burnout? We surveyed 141 autistic adults who had autistic burnout. We used descriptive statistics, content analysis and reflexive thematic analysis to analyse the survey responses. Autistic adults strongly agreed with the definition published by Higgins et al. How long and how often people get autistic burnout was not clear. Participants told us they have both short and long episodes. Participants told us that autistic burnout leads to exhaustion. They needed to withdraw from being with other people. They needed to stay away from autism unfriendly places. Many had been misdiagnosed as having depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder or other conditions. We need increased awareness of autistic burnout. Autistic people need more help. More research is needed, we need to have bigger studies to understand autistic burnout.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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

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 07:50.

Cited references
30
With a DOI
28
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
2
11 / 30 (36.7%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
2 / 30 (6.7%)
References with detected author names
28 / 30 (93.3%)
Without detected author names
2
Without a structured title
2
Without a stable identifier
2
References with raw author names still to review
2
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
115
From DOI or external metadata
115
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
2
87 / 115 (75.7%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 28 / 115 (24.3%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
17 / 115 (14.8%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 17 / 87 (19.5%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 13 / 93 (14.0%).
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