This qualitative research aimed to explore what male adolescents with higher-functioning Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) understand by the term ‘bullying’, and how they experience incidents they perceive as such. It considers these questions within the context of their wider social understanding, and relationships. Nine male adolescents, aged between 11-18 years old, with diagnoses of higher-functioning ASCs were interviewed. Four participants attended mainstream educational provisions, four attended specialised ASC provisions and one attended a specialist provision for those with behavioural difficulties. Interviews covered areas of interest, school, people they felt were important to them, friendships, and experiences of bullying either as a victim, bystander and/or bully. Each interview was transcribed, and qualitatively analysed using thematic analysis. Four major themes emerged. These related to the participants’ conceptualisation of their relationships, their understanding and definition of bullying, the important roles of others within the bullying dynamic, and the participants’ personal repertoire of responses to bullying incidents. This research highlights the need for adolescents with higher-functioning ASCs to be explicitly taught about the more subtle forms of bullying behaviour. It also suggests they would benefit from instruction on age-appropriate strategies with which to respond to bullying attempts. The topic of bullying may also serve as a catalyst for discussing social nuances with young people with higher-functioning ASCs, and build on their understanding of reciprocity and loyalty in friendship.
We have developed the following database of research theses on bullying from all academic institutions in the UK and Ireland. The aim of this database is to assist those who are interested in the field of bullying and want to see what research has already been done. We have attempted to ensure that we have included all relevant theses here; but if there is an omission please let us know by emailing geraldine.kiernan@dcu.ie.
The database is here for information purposes. Those who want access to the texts of the theses need to contact the author, the relevant institution, or both.