A Mixed-Methods Study of Autistic Well-Being in Higher Education: The Role of Camouflaging, Identity, and the Environment

The following study aims to explore the relation between an autistic student in higher eduation, their autistic identity, their use of social camouflaging, and perceived well-being. Grounded in the social model of disability, we will additionally capture qualitative accounts of our autistic participants' perceived person-environment fit to their higher education institution. These qualitative accounts will inform our team of specific ecological factors that may explain our quantitative findings. We hope to identify salient pathways of intervention that could protect against the known negative effects of prolonged social camouflaging on autistic well-being. We will employ an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach utilizing regression analyses with thematic analysis rooted in narrative research design.