Perception of Climate Discourse and Its Impact on Interpersonal Communication in People on the Autism Spectrum
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14198/dissoc.30034Keywords:
Climate discourse, Adult autism, Anxiety, Qualitative analysis, Comminicative sensitivityAbstract
This pilot study examines the perception of climate change discourse among individuals on the autism spectrum (ASD) and its potential influence on interpersonal communication. To this end, an anonymous mixed-methods survey was conducted with 133 participants residing in Spain, categorized by sex, anxiety diagnosis, and ASD diagnosis. The survey included closed-ended questions assessed using a Likert scale and open-ended questions coded with Atlas.ti software. The aim was to identify how participants evaluate climate discourse in different formats (scientific, documentary, journalistic) and whether these influence their communication style. The results indicate that individuals with ASD, particularly women with generalized anxiety, tend to place greater value on scientific and documentary content, showing preference for factual climate discourse. Significant differences were observed between groups, both in perception and in emotional and communicative responses. Although the findings are relevant, there is a recognized need to expand the sample and explore variables such as educational level, sociocultural context, and media access in greater depth.
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