What does this research mean for the field?

Following a late-in-life autism diagnosis, midlife and older adults experience identity reconstruction characterized by either 'surviving' (self-blame) or 'thriving' (self-compassion and agency), with thriving developing over time through an iterative cycle. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To investigate how midlife and older adults make sense of receiving an autism diagnosis later in life and how this process influences post-diagnostic identity reconstruction.

September 14, 2026AutismOpen Access

Surviving to Thriving: A Grounded Theory of Post-Diagnostic Identity Reconstruction in Midlife and Older Autistic Adults

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Authors

JKJennifer Kirton ATAngela Tod TRTony Ryan

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Overview

Constructivist grounded theory reveals survival and thriving trajectories in older autistic adults, highlighting the need for identity-focused post-diagnostic support.

Key Points

To investigate how midlife and older adults make sense of receiving an autism diagnosis later in life and how this process influences post-diagnostic identity reconstruction.
Constructivist grounded theory methodology involving iterative coding and constant comparison across 17 semi-structured interviews.
Included 14 autistic midlife and older adults aged 50 to 73, with input from an autistic advisory group to ensure analytic reflexivity and credibility.
Revealed two primary post-diagnostic trajectories: a 'surviving' pattern marked by deficit-based self-interpretations and self-blame, and a delayed 'thriving' pattern defined by self-compassion, agency, and authentic alignment with autistic identity.
Identified the Thriving Cycle, a dynamic and iterative model of three interconnected processes that facilitates progression from diagnostic liminality to an integrated, affirming identity.

Cite This Study

Kirton et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7b3fc0926e14a848b372c https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261483304

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September 14, 2026AutismOpen Access

Surviving to Thriving: A Grounded Theory of Post-Diagnostic Identity Reconstruction in Midlife and Older Autistic Adults

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

JKJennifer Kirton ATAngela Tod TRTony Ryan

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Constructivist grounded theory reveals survival and thriving trajectories in older autistic adults, highlighting the need for identity-focused post-diagnostic support.

Key Points

To investigate how midlife and older adults make sense of receiving an autism diagnosis later in life and how this process influences post-diagnostic identity reconstruction.
Constructivist grounded theory methodology involving iterative coding and constant comparison across 17 semi-structured interviews.
Included 14 autistic midlife and older adults aged 50 to 73, with input from an autistic advisory group to ensure analytic reflexivity and credibility.
Revealed two primary post-diagnostic trajectories: a 'surviving' pattern marked by deficit-based self-interpretations and self-blame, and a delayed 'thriving' pattern defined by self-compassion, agency, and authentic alignment with autistic identity.
Identified the Thriving Cycle, a dynamic and iterative model of three interconnected processes that facilitates progression from diagnostic liminality to an integrated, affirming identity.

Cite This Study

Kirton et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7b3fc0926e14a848b372c https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261483304

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