Introduction: Employment plays a key role in adulthood, providing opportunities for financial independence, social connection, and a sense of competence (Chen et al., 2015). For autistic adults, employment has been linked to a reduction in anxiety and depression, and improvements in social engagement and self-esteem (Raymaker et al., 2022). Despite these benefits, autistic adults face persistent employment challenges, including lower hiring rates, higher unemployment, and poor working conditions (Hedley et al., 2017). Understanding the psychological factors that support workplace success is therefore essential. Career Self-Determination Theory (CSDT) offers a promising framework, emphasizing three components of career well-being: career autonomy, career competence, and career relatedness (Chen, 2017).
Purpose: This study investigated how elements of CSDT shape the workplace experiences of autistic adults.
Method: Eight autistic adults aged 18 to 25 (Mage = 21.88) with successful employment participated in one-hour semi-structured interviews. Interviews were auto-transcribed and analyzed using NVivo 14. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach was employed to understand participants' lived experiences.
Results: Analysis revealed three main themes and six subthemes aligned with CSDT. Participants viewed employment as a pathway to financial independence and self-regulation. Decision-making, especially in consultation with family, guided job exploration and career transitions. Environmental factors, such as noise and lighting, impacted comfort and job performance. Despite barriers, participants demonstrated resilience and high self-efficacy, with 87.5% reporting confidence in their workplace abilities.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates how basic psychological needs manifest in real-world workplace settings among autistic adults. Findings contribute to a growing understanding of the lived experiences of this underserved population and highlight potential targets for supports and interventions.
