Abstract
This study sought for the first time to identify the extent to which autistic people are pursuing careers in the performing arts, and to determine the nature of the relationship between individuals’ autistic traits and their reported wellbeing. To address these aims, we recruited a self-selecting, community-based sample of individuals working in the performing arts and invited them to complete an online survey. A total of 1,427 respondents took part. We collected responses on participants’ backgrounds, including diagnostic history as well as measures assessing their level of autistic traits, perceived occupational self-efficacy, quality of life, and mental health. They were also asked open-ended questions about support needed, received, or desired in their workplace. Eleven of the 1,427 professionals (1%) reported a clinical diagnosis of autism. Correlational analyses demonstrated that higher levels of autistic traits were significantly associated with lower levels of quality of life, lower levels of occupational self-efficacy and greater severity of mental health conditions. Almost half the sample of professionals (N = 621; 44%) reported a desire for more employment-based support, and autistic traits were significantly higher in those participants who wanted greater support. Within the community of those working in the performing arts, there are a minority of individuals who are autistic or who have high levels of autistic traits. We have demonstrated for the first time that these individuals may be especially vulnerable to lower wellbeing.
Highlights
In research, creativity is not something that has been traditionally associated with autism
Few participants reported a clinical diagnosis of ADHD (1%, n = 9), and 3% (n = 41) of performing arts professionals scored above the ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) threshold for ADHD [65]
The results of this study have demonstrated for the first time that those who have higher levels of autistic traits and are pursuing careers in the performing arts may be especially vulnerable to lower occupational self-efficacy and higher rates of mental health issues than those with lower levels of autistic traits
Summary
Creativity is not something that has been traditionally associated with autism. One key diagnostic criterion for autism–rigid and repetitive behaviours and interests–alongside research showing that autistic people tend to exhibit less flexibility and fluency on creative tasks compared with neurotypical people [1,2,3], suggest that creativity and out-of-thebox thinking might be challenging for autistic people. This assumption may lead many to think that there are very few autistic people working in the performing arts. Autistic traits inversely associated with self-efficacy and wellbeing in performing arts professionals Though there has been little systematic investigation into the relationship between autistic traits and creativity
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