AUTHOR=Øverland Elisabeth , Hauge Åshild Lappegard , Orm Stian , Pellicano Elizabeth , Øie Merete Glenne , Skogli Erik Winther , Andersen Per Normann TITLE=Exploring life with autism: Quality of Life, daily functioning and compensatory strategies from childhood to emerging adulthood: A qualitative study protocol JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1058601 DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1058601 ISSN=1664-0640 ABSTRACT=Introduction

This study aims to investigate self-perceived quality of life, daily functioning, and the use of compensatory strategies in emerging adults with autism1.

Methods and analysis

Participants will be recruited from the Lillehammer Neurodevelopmental 10-year follow-up study (LINEUP), with the aim of 15 individual in-depth interviews. Subsequently, two focus groups with clinicians will be invited to reflect on the themes found in the individual interviews. All interviews will be recorded and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

The study is approved by the Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics in South-East Norway. The findings will be disseminated to academic and clinical audiences through journal articles and conference presentations. To reach the broader autistic and autism communities, the findings will be shared with the Autism Society at national and local meetings, in their membership magazine, and on their social media channel.