A Qualitative Exploration of Autistic People’s Experiences of Camouflaging Across Different Social Contexts

Background: Autistic people experience significant societal stigmatization and frequently use camouflaging strategies to conceal their autistic traits and survive or form relationships in a predominantly non-autistic world. They tend to have smoother and more rewarding interactions with autistic than non-autistic people. Emerging research has identified that social context plays a significant part in one’s camouflaging decision-making and strategies, and the perception of their behavior, which has not yet been investigated qualitatively. Method: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 autistic adults, focusing on their perception of camouflaging in different social contexts as well as when around autistic and non-autistic people. We then analyzed and interpreted the transcripts using thematic analysis. Results: The study identified three themes in the data: perceptions of psychological safety, fit with a person, and expectations and dynamic identity negotiation. Participants tended to feel safer and camouflage less around those they perceived as accepting or similar in communication style. The latter included some, but not all, autistic people. This suggests that camouflaging could be part of a dynamic identity negotiation process as participants met or subverted the perceived expectations of a particular context. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the nuanced nature of camouflaging and stresses the need for fostering inclusive environments.