Chronic Invalidation: An Underexplored Source of Autistic Distress

Abstract

Autistic people experience many symptoms of psychological distress at higher rates than non-autistic people and have limited tailored supports. Addressing the mental health needs of the Autistic community therefore represents a research, a clinical, and a societal imperative. While research on intrapersonal contributors to psychological distress in Autistic people has uncovered several important antecedents and maintaining factors, research on interpersonal, societal, and systemic contributors is in its nascency. In this coproduced perspective piece, we discuss the potential role of chronic emotional and behavioral invalidation as a source of Autistic distress, provide examples of sources of invalidation that either occur at higher rates in Autistic people or may be unique to the experience of being Autistic, and make recommendations for integrating the concept of invalidation in research, clinical practice, and policy. Centering chronic invalidation as a core contributor to Autistic people’s mental health challenges has the potential to spawn novel research agendas, inform clinical care, and drive educational reform.