‘It Felt Like All My Friendship Issues Suddenly Made Sense’: The Friendship Experiences of Late-Diagnosed Autistic Women

Research shows autistic people may struggle to form and maintain friendships and that these challenges may be heightened in autistic girls. However, despite women often being diagnosed later than men, there is limited literature exploring the friendship experiences of late-diagnosed autistic women. A qualitative retrospective design was adopted to investigate the friendship experiences of autistic women who were diagnosed in adulthood, to explore their experiences of making/maintaining friendships, and how receiving a diagnosis in adulthood impacted their friendships. Seven autistic women from the UK, diagnosed over the age of 18, participated in semi-structured interviews, analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were developed: Friendships are challenging, ‘nobody noticed anything, ever’ – (un) supportive factors for friendship challenges, changing for the better life post-diagnosis. Women felt their autistic characteristics, and differing friendship wants created friendship challenges. They reported receiving limited support for friendships growing up. However, diagnosis made it possible for women to accept and comprehend themselves and their past friendship experiences, recognising a preference for autistic friends. For many, receiving a diagnosis improved friendships, but the process of self-acceptance was distressing later in life; every woman wished they had been diagnosed earlier. Practical implications are discussed.