This study aims to understand how family support impacts autistic students’ university experiences.
This study aims to understand how family support impacts autistic students’ university experiences.
Study Description
More autistic students have been entering university in recent years. Many different factors can influence students' experiences of university, whether positively or negatively, and can thus have varying implications on students' university experiences. Although there is research about autistic students' experiences, the impact of family support remains under-researched. This is an important area of research because support from family members may contribute to greater wellbeing and greater ability for students to meet the demands they face at university. Understanding how family support may impact student outcomes could help to inform recommendations for supporting autistic students and their families.
What will participants be doing?
Participants will be asked to complete a 30-minute online survey. The survey can be closed and resumed at a later time if you wish to take a break. The survey must be finished and submitted within 2 weeks of starting the survey.
Location
Participants can complete the online survey remotely at a location and time of their choice. In-person participation is also possible at King Henry Building research cubicles; please contact the researcher to arrange this. King Henry Building is located on King Henry I street, PO1 2DY.
Duration
This study explores family support for autistic students through an approximately 30-minute online survey.
Participant characteristics:
- Autistic individuals who are current students or recent ex-students/graduates of an undergraduate or taught masters university course
- Those who have a formal autism diagnosis and those who self-identify as autistic are welcome
- Must have completed at least one term of the course full-time, on campus, but no need to have passed the term
- Course must be from a UK university
- Must be fluent enough in English to complete a 30-minute survey independently
- Additionally, ex-students and graduates must have left university a maximum of 1 calendar year ago (i.e., if taking the survey in April 2025, the latest you can have graduated or withdrawn from your course is April 2024)
- aged 18+
- any gender
Reward
As a token of appreciation for participation, participants may choose to opt into a prize draw which will be conducted once data collection is complete. 8 Amazon vouchers worth £10 each will be issued and the draw will be conducted randomly.
Apply
Please contact Elinor Lim (elinor.lim@port.ac.uk) to request the survey information. You can do this by scanning the QR code below and sending the email that is generated, or by emailing elinor.lim@port.ac.uk. Elinor will send the survey link and a unique participant ID.
Closing date for applications
16 June 2025
Ethics code: SHFEC 2024-066A
