RESEARCH PROJECTS

We are currently working on a project exploring how UK university students are coping with Covid-19. Previous research has suggested that Autistic people are at increased risk for mental health difficulties and have found Covid-19 to be particularly difficult in many cases. Thus, we are investigating whether Autistic university students tend to experience increased Covid-19 anxiety than non-autistic university students.

This research involves two elements. Firstly, we are conducting questionnaires to measure Covid-19 anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty and preferences for sameness. This will be quantitatively analysed with the aim of investigating whether Autistic university students experience higher levels of Covid-19 anxiety, and whether preferences for sameness correlates with this anxiety. We are currently recruiting participants for this research. People click the following link to take part -https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScC08tdJW3y1K-odCEgZVCBbZ1rsBRcx_4SAhPplgLOWPCIZA/viewform. There is an option to leave your email address at the end of this questionnaire if you would be interested in our follow-up study into face-to-face teaching.

Secondly, we are using a series of open-ended questions (either via questionnaire or interview depending on participant preference) to investigate Autistic university students’ thoughts about returning to face-to-face teaching. We aim to use this research to inform universities on ways they can support Autistic university students during the return to face-to-face teaching over the coming year.

If you have any questions are the research, please feel free to email amber@sixstagesframework.com ordrshungu@inclusionpsychologists.com.