Deakin, Michele Elizabeth (2026) Storytelling: Routes to Wellbeing as Defined by Autistic Adults in Everydayand Clinical Contexts. Doctoral thesis, York St John University.

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Abstract

Understanding of how to improve autistic people’s mental wellbeing needs updating, given the seriousness of mental health challenges and the number of individuals requiring support. Limited guidance makes it difficult for autistic people to access knowledge and resources appropriate for their everyday lives. This thesis defines autistic storytelling as a personally affirming wellbeing resource. Drawing on contributions from autistic participants and practitioners, it offers a storytelling resource underpinned by novel conceptual principles on how storytelling can contribute to wellbeing.

Study One’s mixed-methods systematic review of 69 studies characterised the available psychological interventions for autistic adults. Most research adopted a neuronormative view of mental health and failed to examine the conceptual foundations of autistic wellbeing. Findings suggested that wellbeing interventions were in their infancy, lacked theoretical underpinnings, and relied on imprecise outcome measures, underscoring the need for investment in understanding autistic-led wellbeing strategies. Study Two explored storytelling with six autistic adults in a participatory, longitudinal study. Findings indicated storytelling’s multifaceted nature supported wellbeing through enjoyment, creativity, self-understanding, identity exploration, and emotion regulation. In Study Three, six participants co designed a Storytelling Guide as a personal wellbeing resource, with input from ten practitioners who worked with autistic clients across diverse settings.

The thesis contributes to practice by providing a shortlist of wellbeing outcome measures that are validated for use with autistic people, and a Storytelling Guide wellbeing resource. Its theoretical contribution offers conceptual clarity through 38 storytelling Wellbeing Pathways, serving as a reference for autistic people to make empowering choices about what contributes to their wellbeing. These offer much-needed personal and clinical wellbeing resources aligned with autistic phenomenology. The thesis offers a new understanding of how autistic people can use storytelling in everyday life for wellbeing purposes. A methodological contribution offers a gentle and democratic participatory approach to working equitably with autistic adults.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Status:	Published
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
School/Department:	School of Education, Language and Psychology
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/16149

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