Understanding the experiences of autistic adolescent girls: a systematic review of peer relationships and a qualitative analysis of mental health difficulties

Existing research indicates that autistic girls face unique challenges in navigating peer relationships compared to autistic boys and neurotypical peers. These include difficulties with reciprocity, interpreting social cues, and maintaining friendships. Given that adolescence is a critical period for psychosocial development, peer interactions become increasingly important. While many autistic girls desire friendships, they often experience rejection, exclusion, and bullying, factors which increase their vulnerability to mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Despite this, there is limited research exploring the intersection of peer relationships and mental health difficulties in autistic girls. This current thesis aims to address this gap through two studies. The first is a systematic review that synthesises existing research to deepen the understanding of the peer relationships of autistic girls. The findings indicated that autistic girls are strongly motivated to form peer relationships but face unique social challenges such as increased bullying and exclusion. This results in autistic girls using camouflaging behaviours to manage social interactions. These factors were found to negatively impact the mental health of autistic girls. The second study is a qualitative exploration of the experiences of six autistic adolescent girls in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), three themes emerged: (1) Understanding the Relationship between Autism and Mental Health in Autistic Adolescent Girls, (2) Navigating Social Environments as an Autistic Adolescent Girl with Mental Health Difficulties, and (3) Disconnect between the Needs of Autistic Girls and their Support. Overall, this thesis provides a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between peer relationships, mental health difficulties, and service accessibility for autistic girls. Clinical implications are discussed, alongside future recommendations.

Grantor dc:publisher

University College Cork

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Malone, Deirbhile

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Keating, Kim
• Ryan, Christian

• Autism
• Girls
• Peer relationships
• Bullying
• Mental health difficulties
• Diagnostic overshadowing

Statement dc:rights

• © 2025, Deirbhile Malone.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10468/18052

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:cora.ucc.ie:10468/18052