Loneliness from the Perspective of Young People with Autism and/or ADHD: A Thematic Analysis of Adolescents’ Experiences and Understanding

Background/Objectives: Loneliness is a common experience in adolescence, typically centered around difficulties in relationships with same-age peers and friends. It is often assumed that those diagnosed with autism and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk of loneliness than their non-diagnosed peers due to documented difficulties in making and maintaining friendships. Although quantitative research on loneliness and autism exists, there remains a notable gap in studies that explore the lived experiences of loneliness from the perspective of adolescents diagnosed with autism and ADHD, particularly in relation to their peers/or peers’ experiences. Method: To address this gap in the literature, 10 focus groups were conducted with adolescents diagnosed with autism and/or ADHD to discuss their experiences of loneliness. Results: Overall, young people with autism and ADHD did not consider loneliness to be a greater issue for them compared to their neurotypical peers. Six themes with five subthemes were developed through thematic analysis of the interview data: “not feeling like you belong when socializing”, “being alone can be a good thing but not when it’s not your choice”, “social media can be a good thing, but it’s not as good as in real life”, “not having anyone you can rely on to support you through tough times”, “school support can bring young people together”, and “sometimes it’s good to be distracted from negative thinking”. Conclusions: Although these themes are comparable to those emerging from research with non-autistic and non-ADHD youth, the importance of quality relationships with friends who provided support with daily functioning was viewed differently.