Abstract
The study explores work motivation of autistic adults through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Twelve autistic employees (ages 28–47; 3 females) participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews about their work experience. Analysis combined inductive and deductive approaches, identifying motivational themes emerging from the interviews, and analyzing them according to SDT concepts. Two major themes emerged: (1) work motivation factors positioned on the self-determination continuum: income and self-reliance; a daily routine; social/familial internalized norms; meaning and contribution; and job interest; and (2) satisfaction of psychological needs at work, postulated by SDT: competence, social-relatedness, and autonomy and structure. Findings are discussed in relation to current literature, and practical applications are suggested for meeting the motivational needs of autistic employees and promoting employment stability.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1529-1542 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 14 Jul 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Keywords
- Autistic adults
- Employment
- Self-determination theory
- Work motivation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology