Shifting Perspectives: A Strength’s Based Approach to Understanding Autistic Development and Support of Autistic Children and Families
Howard, Ruth (2026) Shifting Perspectives: A Strength’s Based Approach to Understanding Autistic Development and Support of Autistic Children and Families. Doctoral thesis, Buckinghamshire New University (Awarded by Coventry University).
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Abstract
This thesis is concerned with developing a new intervention to support the well-being of autistic children and their families. It begins with a broad overview of current and historical prominent theories and practices in relation to autism. It concludes that current understanding is inadequate and further insight is needed to inform support of autistic individuals. The thesis moves on to offer two novel theories, the Adapted Phenotype Theory (APT) and Autistic Development Theory (ADT), developed using a complex systems approach. APT, an evolutionary theory, proposes the adaptions lead to an enhanced threat detect and react ability, that is overstimulated in modernity. ADT proposes factors that may influence development of the autistic child with the adapted phenotype and provides potential insight into why there is heterogeneity in the population, the differences between the sexes and life outcomes. Positive Psychology theory and practice are reviewed in relation to autism. To include the community and involve parents in the planning stage, a proposed programme outline was shared with three focus groups composed of parents of autistic children. Transcripts were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, and this process generated themes and sub-themes. These themes and Focus Group feedback were used to either adapt existing positive psychology interventions or develop components from scratch. The thesis then describes how the components were used to form parent workshops, Flourishing Futures. Flourishing Futures is a parent-mediated strengths-based intervention to support the development and well-being of autistic children and their families. Flourishing Futures was evaluated using various parent and child measures and had some outcomes for reducing parent negative experience and increasing affective balance (overall happiness). Parental evaluations on various measures showed some insight into the influence of the workshops on their own autistic children, as did a positive influence on their own (parental) reported social anxiety. Despite some null results, some measures indicated possible positive, although cautious, outcomes for both parents and children. It is proposed that the findings of Flourishing Futures reflect a shift in parental perceptions, changing the family system, shifting the context of the child and enabling further development. The thesis concludes with potential next steps and further evaluation for Flourishing Futures and empirical testing of the theories. The two theories, Focus Group findings and Flourishing Futures design, operation and outcomes are original contributions to knowledge.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Autistic development theory, Autism evolutionary theory, Autism strengths-based development, Autism positive psychology, Autism wellbeing. |
| Depositing User: | Research and Knowledge Exchange Office Admin 1 |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Jul 2026 11:31 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Jul 2026 11:31 |
| URI: | https://bnu.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/21081 |
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