Insights into Sensory and Relaxation Preferences to Inform the Design of Calming Spaces and Sensory Rooms for Autistic Adults

Background: Sensory and restorative rooms provide environments that promote relaxation through sensory experiences. These rooms contain a variety of sensory-engaging equipment and materials that facilitate relaxation, emotional regulation, and sensory integration. However, researchers have limited understanding of which specific relaxation techniques and essential elements create effective, calming spaces for autistic adults. This study seeks to bridge this gap by analyzing the sensory preferences and needs of autistic adults to inform the design of sensory and restorative rooms. Methods: We conducted an online mixed-methods survey, divided into three parts. In Part One, we utilized the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ-50) to screen for autistic traits and we invited participants scoring 26 or above to complete Part Two of the study. In Part Two, we utilized a survey incorporating open-ended and closed questions to assess participants’ sensory and relaxation preferences. We then invited the participants from Part Two who indicated that they had previous sensory room experience to complete Part Three, which assessed their experiences with these spaces. We analyzed the qualitative results using content analysis. Results: We Screened 150 participants in Part One, of whom 96 and 13 completed Part Two and Three, respectively. Our analysis revealed that while we could identify general categories, autistic adults use a diverse range of methods and sensory modulation techniques to facilitate relaxation. When we asked about preferred relaxation activities, analysis of the participants’ responses revealed categories, including active or passive media use, spending time outdoors, seeking solitude, and engaging in creative activities. The participants showed considerable diversity in how they interacted with items within each category. Regarding specific sensory modalities, we identified visual, auditory, and somatosensory as the primary senses affecting relaxation, particularly through customized lighting or sounds, however, these preferences remained highly person specific. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the importance of taking an individualized approach when designing calming spaces for this demographic. Our study reveals a wide range of methods autistic adults use to self-regulate, spanning customized environmental changes, sensory stimulation, engagement with nature, media engagement, and internal coping strategies. In addition, we found that suggestions for improving existing spaces focus on increasing personalization and control to better meet individual sensory needs. Future studies could investigate the practicality and efficacy of incorporating a broader spectrum of engaging sensory stimuli within sensory rooms, tailored to the diverse needs and preferences of autistic adults.