The Anxiety Caused by Secondary Schools for Autistic Adolescents: In Their Own Words
Secondary schools are increasingly becoming inclusive of all students whatever their individual needs, but we question whether teachers understand enough about specific needs in order to effectively support all their students. Research indicates that autistic students often struggle with aspects of...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Education Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/11/11/726 |
| _version_ | 1797510580181925888 |
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| author | Debra Costley Anne Emerson Danielle Ropar Elizabeth Sheppard |
| author_facet | Debra Costley Anne Emerson Danielle Ropar Elizabeth Sheppard |
| author_sort | Debra Costley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Secondary schools are increasingly becoming inclusive of all students whatever their individual needs, but we question whether teachers understand enough about specific needs in order to effectively support all their students. Research indicates that autistic students often struggle with aspects of school (conformity; social communication; sensory challenges; bullying) but very few studies ask autistic adolescents about their experiences. One of the key elements of the school experience for autistic adolescents is the levels of anxiety experienced by many students on a daily basis. This research set out to explore the extent to which autistic students in secondary schools in the UK were able to recognise and reflect on their own anxiety. The eighteen participants in this co-produced qualitative study took part in semi-structured interviews planned by a team of autistic and non-autistic researchers. The themes that emerged from this study, in terms of triggers for anxiety, included other people’s behaviour, fear of the unknown, and sensory sensitivities. A theoretical view of their difficulties concurs with the concept of intolerance of uncertainty. Our data suggest that autistic students continue to experience high levels of anxiety throughout their secondary education, despite supports put in place by some schools. Strategies are highlighted that could be implemented by all schools to promote truly inclusive settings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:33:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d187d1fcfac46c2aeb8436f2bd25d72 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:33:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d187d1fcfac46c2aeb8436f2bd25d722023-11-22T23:05:48ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022021-11-01111172610.3390/educsci11110726The Anxiety Caused by Secondary Schools for Autistic Adolescents: In Their Own WordsDebra Costley0Anne Emerson1Danielle Ropar2Elizabeth Sheppard3School of Education, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG8 1BB, UKSchool of Education, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG8 1BB, UKSchool of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UKSchool of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UKSecondary schools are increasingly becoming inclusive of all students whatever their individual needs, but we question whether teachers understand enough about specific needs in order to effectively support all their students. Research indicates that autistic students often struggle with aspects of school (conformity; social communication; sensory challenges; bullying) but very few studies ask autistic adolescents about their experiences. One of the key elements of the school experience for autistic adolescents is the levels of anxiety experienced by many students on a daily basis. This research set out to explore the extent to which autistic students in secondary schools in the UK were able to recognise and reflect on their own anxiety. The eighteen participants in this co-produced qualitative study took part in semi-structured interviews planned by a team of autistic and non-autistic researchers. The themes that emerged from this study, in terms of triggers for anxiety, included other people’s behaviour, fear of the unknown, and sensory sensitivities. A theoretical view of their difficulties concurs with the concept of intolerance of uncertainty. Our data suggest that autistic students continue to experience high levels of anxiety throughout their secondary education, despite supports put in place by some schools. Strategies are highlighted that could be implemented by all schools to promote truly inclusive settings.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/11/11/726autismsecondary schoolanxietyinclusionadolescence |
| spellingShingle | Debra Costley Anne Emerson Danielle Ropar Elizabeth Sheppard The Anxiety Caused by Secondary Schools for Autistic Adolescents: In Their Own Words Education Sciences autism secondary school anxiety inclusion adolescence |
| title | The Anxiety Caused by Secondary Schools for Autistic Adolescents: In Their Own Words |
| title_full | The Anxiety Caused by Secondary Schools for Autistic Adolescents: In Their Own Words |
| title_fullStr | The Anxiety Caused by Secondary Schools for Autistic Adolescents: In Their Own Words |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Anxiety Caused by Secondary Schools for Autistic Adolescents: In Their Own Words |
| title_short | The Anxiety Caused by Secondary Schools for Autistic Adolescents: In Their Own Words |
| title_sort | anxiety caused by secondary schools for autistic adolescents in their own words |
| topic | autism secondary school anxiety inclusion adolescence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/11/11/726 |
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