Autistic Adolescent Interviews on the Value and Timing of an Early Diagnosis

A qualitative study from Western countries presents interview data from 18 autistic adolescents aged 16–18. The dataset, authored by Gert-Jan Vanaken and shared on figshare, explores their experiences with diagnosis and views on ideal diagnostic timing. The file was last updated in May 2026.

Use Cases

• Analyzing themes of identity and difference based on the 'Not feeling different' concept mentioned in the description.
• Studying perceptions of diagnostic label value based on the 'Drawing up the balance' theme described.
• Researching ethical frameworks for early intervention based on the relational care ethics approach discussed.
• Modeling factors influencing support preferences based on the emphasis on personalized, neurodiversity-affirmative care.

Strengths

• Includes perspectives from 18 autistic adolescents, a group often excluded from ethical debates.
• Data analysis produced three distinct themes, providing a structured qualitative framework.
• Released under a CC-BY-4.0 license, permitting broad reuse and adaptation.

Limitations

• The dataset is a 133.4 KB PDF; the underlying interview transcripts or coded data are not directly accessible as structured data.
• Row count and column-level documentation are unknown, limiting suitability assessment for computational analysis.
• Sample size of 18 participants may limit generalizability of findings.

Provenance

Source

figshare

Collection Method

In-depth interviews analyzed using the QUAGOL data-analysis method.

Time Range

Study period not specified; publication date is 2026.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-14 11:33:30

Geography

Western countries