“Welcomed as I am, not as I am expected to be”: towards development of peer support for Autistic people with Eating Disorders
Date published: 07/07/26
Authors: Michelle Sader, Nicola Llowarch, Jill Gerlof, Fiona Emmerson, Ellen Maloney, Fiona Duffy & Karri Gillespie-Smith
Published in: Eating Disorders: Journal of Treatment and Prevention
Highlights
- Twenty-five Autistic adults with an eating disorder (ED) shared their views on peer support
- Peer support could identify unique and personalised approaches to ED recovery
- Formation of a positive Autistic identity can facilitate recovery from an ED
- Peer support can make ED recovery more accessible for the Autistic community.
Objective
Autistic people with eating disorders (ED) report different experiences and needs for ED treatment with a need to expand what existing support looks like. This qualitative study seeks to investigate the perspectives of Autistic people to examine whether peer support may play a role in ED recovery.
Method
Twenty-five Autistic adults with experience of EDs completed a survey enquiring about peer support for their community. Survey answers were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to generate emerging themes surrounding the perspectives and views towards bespoke peer support.
Results
Four identified themes encompass the importance and purpose of peer support for Autistic people with an ED: 1) Peer support to validate the unique considerations for Autistic people with an ED; 2) The importance of peer support to build a positive Autistic identity; 3) ‘Welcomed as I am, not as I am expected to be”: Autistic people’s hopes for peer support; 4) Where peer support may harm rather than help.
Conclusions
This study is the first to establish community-led views towards the importance and purpose underlying peer support for Autistic adults with an ED. Generated themes can serve as an evidence base for future autism-affirming peer support for ED recovery.
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