Childhood adversity, resilience, and autism: a critical review of the literature

Abstract

The long-term, negative physical and mental health effects of childhood adversity are well-documented in the literature, as are the mitigating effects of resilience factors. However, for those on the autism spectrum, these phenomena are relatively unstudied and not well-understood. Articulating the concept of mental health as a function of childhood adversity, resilience, and autistic identity, provides a foundation from which to conduct research and provide clinical mental health supports to individuals on the autism spectrum. Research on adversity and resilience in this population must consider neurodiversity and foreground the perspectives of the autism and autistic communities in research design, study implementation, and findings dissemination.