Discrimination, self-stigma and microaggressions: perspectives of adults with autism in Slovenia

Purpose Research shows that autistic individuals often experience stigma and discrimination in various areas of daily life, which can lead to the internalisation of stigma by concurring with the stereotypes and prejudices attributed to them by society. Discrimination can also manifest through subtle and often unintentional forms of microaggressions (e.g. statements, actions or thoughts). This study aims to explore the experiences of adults with autism from Slovenia – a largely overlooked population – with discrimination, self-stigmatisation and microaggressions. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted through an online questionnaire completed by 49 adults with an autism diagnosis, incorporating items adapted from established scales measuring discrimination, self-stigma and microaggressions. The collected data were statistically analysed using appropriate non-parametric methods. Findings Preliminary findings suggest that in Slovenia, adults with autism most often experience microaggressions, mainly in the form of minimisation of autism. Participants also reported occasional experiences of discrimination and unfair treatment in personal relationships and in education and work. The most influential factor across experiences of discrimination and microaggressions was the timing of diagnosis, with individuals diagnosed as adults reporting negative experiences more frequently. Overall experiences of self-stigmatisation were less common; however, they were most often reported by those who first recognised signs of autism themselves. Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, this research is the first in Slovenia to examine the experiences of discrimination and self-stigma in the population of adults with autism, and the first overall to study microaggressions in relation to people with autism.