‘It's Like a Disguise’: Camouflaging Strategies in Autistic Male Adolescents. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) Study

Abstract

Social camouflaging has attracted much research and clinical attention as a coping strategy in autistic individuals. It has been associated with adverse mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and suicidality. To appear socially competent and to prevent others from noticing their social communication differences, autistic individuals may hide their autistic traits. Camouflaging has been researched more widely in autistic girls and women, despite emerging research evidence suggesting that autistic young males also camouflage during social interactions. This study explored how eight autistic male adolescents experience their peer friendships and how, if at all, they engage in camouflaging in social interactions. Participants were recruited from a Children and Adolescents Mental Health Neurodevelopmental Service and were interviewed via a semi-structured interview protocol. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. This paper focuses on one group experiential theme entitled ‘The multifaceted layers of Camouflaging’, with three corresponding subordinate themes: camouflaging strategies; motivations and functions; and impact on self and consequences. This study offers in-depth experiential accounts of autistic male adolescents employing camouflaging strategies during peer interactions, alongside their motivations, perceived functions, and impact on self-identity. Participants described camouflaging as a strategy to fit in and ‘pass’ as neurotypical, while simultaneously recognising its emotional and identity-related costs.