Research shows that engaging in affinity spaces and finding like-minded people with similar interests helps to develop friendships for autistic students (Ranon Nachman et al., 2024). Participating in shared interest groups results in higher subjective well-being when it provides a way to develop new relationships (Bailey et al., 2020). 

Grand Valley State University

Autistic college students face many stressors in navigating the social environment of college. These challenges may include difficulty with social interactions, developing and maintaining relationships, developing social supports, and navigating the college environment (Bailey et al., 2020). Research has shown that social experiences are closely related to subjective well-being. More specifically, autistic college students who are more socially engaged experience higher subjective well-being. Many autistic college students experience dissatisfaction with their social lives at college and social difficulties (Goddard & Cook, 2022). Recently published studies have found connections between engaging in autistic spaces, sharing interests, and belonging felt by autistic people in the college environment. 

Autism & College: Social Experiences 

Shared interests

Autistic students feel a higher level of belonging when they are around other autistic people (Crompton et al., 2020). Autistic people report anxiety, exhaustion and fatigue from spending time with non-autistic people, but do not report this when spending time with autistic people. When with other autistic people, autistic people do not feel as much pressure to conceal their autistic traits from others.  


Belonging

Research has shown that autistic people feel better understood by other autistic people (Crompton et al., 2020). Engaging in autistic spaces helped autistic people develop social relationships (Ranon Nachman et al., 2024). Autism-specific programs on college campuses offer autistic students a way to connect and forge friendships (Ranon Nachman et al., 2024). 

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