Abstract
Background:
Autistic individuals have intense interests in which they invest a significant amount of time and energy. Intense interests (i.e., passions) and their impact on optimal functioning were investigated for the first time using the Dualistic Model of Passion (DMP). The DMP posits that harmonious (HP) and obsessive passions (OP) can predict optimal functioning (well-being, contribution to society, and performance). Whereas HP is described as a balanced and flexible form of engagement toward a topic or an activity, OP is defined as a rigid form of engagement that negatively impacts optimal functioning.
Methods:
Autistic individuals aged 14–33 (n = 108) participated in an online quantitative study and completed self-report measures relating to their favorite interest of the moment (i.e., HP, OP, emotions, flow, conflict, rumination, and optimal functioning). Aims were to characterize passion and to determine whether HP and OP predicted emotions, flow, conflict, rumination, and optimal functioning. Descriptive analyses (means, standard deviations, and pairwise correlations) and a path analysis model were performed to answer these aims.
Results:
Results revealed that participants were highly passionate for their favorite interest, showing relatively high levels of HP and OP for activities such as video games, knowledge acquisition, and creative arts. Structural equation modeling showed that, as predicted by the DMP, HP was associated with positive emotions and flow. In turn, OP was positively associated with conflict, rumination, and negative emotions. Finally, HP and OP were positively and negatively associated with optimal functioning respectively.
Conclusion:
Findings suggest that intense interests can be defined as passion using the DMP. The DMP offers a theoretical framework that can account for the duality of intense interest and predict psychological and functional outcomes. Learning to foster higher levels of HP for intense interests can improve well-being and promote positive psychological experiences.
Community Brief
Why is this an important issue?
Autistic individuals have several passions that shape how they spend their time and what activities they engage in. Research and interventions in autism have historically focused on problematic aspects of passionate interests, often omitting the positive and motivational aspects of passion. Understanding the role that passion plays in their lives and how it relates to their well-being can inform clinical and research practices.
What was the purpose of this study?
Our goal was to study the intensity and the types of passion that autistic individuals showed for their passionate interests and how it related to their well-being. Using a well-established passion theory brought a new understanding to the field of autism research and passionate interests.
What did the researchers do?
We asked autistic teenagers and autistic young adults to fill out an online questionnaire about their current and most important passionate interest. They were asked to rate how passionate they felt about their interest, what emotions were associated with this interest, and how much they thought that passion conflicted with other aspects of their life. They also rated their global well-being and the quality of their relationships.
What were the results of the study?
We found that most autistic teenagers and young adults were highly passionate about their interest. We found evidence for high levels of both types of passion depending on the individual (obsessive and harmonious passion). Having more obsessive passion was associated with having lower well-being, and similarly more harmonious passion was related to greater well-being.
What do these findings add to what was already known?
We now know that passionate interests in autism can be defined as passions according to the Dualistic Model of Passion theory. Both positive and negative impacts of passionate interests can coexist in one person. Passionate interests in autism are an important part of well-being, and the type of passion is related to either greater or lower well-being.
What are potential weaknesses in the study?
The study used multiple-choice questionnaires designed for the general population, which may not fully capture the lived experiences of autistic participants. Also, our study does not represent the entire spectrum of autism, as we excluded participants without reading and writing language skills.
How will these findings help autistic adults now or in the future?
Autistic individuals can evaluate their own passionate interests to better understand how different aspects of their passion are connected to their well-being. Also, we hope our results can help redefine passionate interests and bring empowerment, documenting the positive and motivational aspects of interests in autism.
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References
Supplementary Material
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