Charlotte Brownlow

University of Southern Queensland · Graduate Research School

Autism research is on the cusp of significant change. There are mounting calls from Autistic self-advocates, researchers, and other scientists for a paradigm shift in autism research. Yet little is known about what non-academic members of the Autistic and autism communities think about autism research. We – a team of Autistic and non-autistic resea...

Introduction: This systematic literature review (SLR) aims to synthesize available research which examines the supports required for trans autistic school-aged youth to improve their mental health, wellbeing, and quality of life. Current literature highlights the need to support this specific school-aged population, but the research that synthesize...

Successfully engaging with university study can be challenging for autistic students and has been highlighted in the research literature as an area of concern. This study sought to address support for autistic students at one Australian university through the development of a bespoke programme called A-Skills. The programme was co-designed with aut...

Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students are an important part of Australian university research culture. They contribute significantly to the generation of new knowledge, research outputs, industry engagement and the continual development of higher education. This article is the first to systematically review existing research to synthesise the ke...

A lifespan human development textbook with a focus on Australia and New Zealand.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected university students globally. Our study investigated mental health indicators among higher degree by research (HDR) students at a regional university in Queensland, Australia. A total of 231 HDR students (female = 137, male = 94) completed the Brunel Mood Scale to assess the constructs of Tension, Depression, Ange...

Purpose: It is crucial to understand the micro-level personal factors that impact farmer mental health help-seeking, given that farmers are at increased risk of suicide yet show reduced mental health help-seeking behaviors. Methods: Ten farmers, 10 farmers' partners, and 8 general practitioners (ie, family physicians) from Australia completed qu...

The ability to self-regulate is a key focus for educators, especially for neurodivergent students, such as those with ADHD, fetal alcohol syndrome, mental health difficulties, autism, and/or anxiety. Students not being able to self-regulate frequently results in their behaviours being labelled as “naughty” or “challenging” by teachers. Continued dy...

Significance Communicating in ways that motivate engagement in social distancing remains a critical global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study tested motivational qualities of messages about social distancing (those that promoted choice and agency vs. those that were forceful and shaming) in 25,718 people in 89 countries...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the experience of autistic young adults aged 18 to 25 years old over a 12-month transition period from 2016 to 2017. Data was collected through a longitudinal repeated measures case series design with assessments conducted at 2 time points, at baseline then 12 months later. Assessments included self-report eval...

This introductory chapter focuses on the rising influence and importance of social media both within academic research and everyday contexts. The chapter reflects on this intersection with individual lives, providing the context for the primary focus on the edited collection on the meanings and impacts of social media within individual developmenta...

This final chapter of the edited collection seeks to draw together and reflect on the key themes that have been highlighted by the individual chapter authors. The chapters overall highlight the nuanced ways that individuals and groups engage with technology across the lifespan. Overall, three key themes are highlighted for discussion. The first ref...

Facebook has become an important part of building and maintaining relationships and an increasingly integral part of our lives at all developmental stages. Using Facebook to connect with friends and family can provide greater perceptions of social support, providing a buffer between life stress and physical and mental health outcomes. It has been h...

There are some things that many of us take for granted - such as knowing when we are hot or cold, feel hungry, or need to go to the toilet. But how do we know these things, and why do some people struggle to recognise them? Interoception - the ability to identify and act on physical sensations inside the body - is crucial to human well-being. It un...

Models that conceptualize family are employed by psychologists, governments, legislators, and policymakers to inform professional practice and formulate public policy. However, extant models are notably Western‐centric in both origin and context. Given the cultural diversity of today's globalized world, it is timely to question whether such models...

An inclusive approach to education requires schools and educators to address the support needs and individual predispositions of all students. Our research highlights the crucial importance of effective and respectful communication with autistic students to facilitate their successful participation in schools. This paper explores the experiences of...

The suicide rate of farmers is approximately double that of the general Australian population, yet farmers employ fewer help-seeking behaviours (Arnautovska et al. in Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 49:593-599, 2014; Brew et al. in BMC Public Health 16:1-11, 2016). Therefore, it is crucial to understand if, and how health services and system mig...

The aim of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators during the transition to adulthood for young adults on the autism spectrum, from the perspectives of service providers. Fourteen disability service providers participated in two focus groups. Focus group data were analysed using thematic analysis resulting in two themes relative to...

The aim of this study was to explore the role of Mothers of young adults on the autism spectrum in Australia, during the transition to adulthood. Data collected through interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis resulting in two themes relevant to autism and inclusive practices: Inclusion Support and Mothers’ Support. T...

Empathy is essential for social functioning and is relevant to a host of clinical conditions. This COSMIN review evaluated the empirical support for empathy self-report measures used with autistic and nonautistic adults. Given autism is characterized by social differences, it is the subject of a substantial proportion of empathy research. Therefore...

Empathy is essential for social functioning and is relevant to a host of clinical conditions. This COSMIN review evaluated the empirical support for empathy self-report measures used with autistic and nonautistic adults. Given autism is characterized by social differences, it is the subject of a substantial proportion of empathy research. Therefore...

For families with limited opportunities for face-to-face interaction, social media can be a vital communication medium to help shape the family identity, maintain bonds, and accomplish shared tasks. This mixed-methods systematic review of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method empirical studies published between 1997 and 2019, uses a convergen...

The Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) reached full national implementation in July 2019. It supports Australians with disabilities via individualized funding packages for disability-specific services and assistive technology. This systematic review of literature presents research describing the experiences of parents of childre...

With an increase in gender equality policies and gender balance targets within traditionally male professions, organisations such as the police service are experiencing changing demographics. How these shifts influence the construction of professional identity is unclear. Drawing on focus group data, this study aimed to explore identity constructio...

The aim of this study was to establish ‘proof of concept’ for a novel approach to HIV and STI testing at a sex on premises venue (SOPV) for gay and bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) during late night group sex theme parties. A mixed-methods approach was used, and the study aimed to: (1) Build upon existing SOPV funded service del...

The aim of this study was to understand the ‘farming life’ factors that affect the mental health help‐seeking of farmers. Semi‐structured interviews were completed with 10 farmers, 10 farmers’ partners, and eight General Practitioners (GPs), covering mental health help‐seeking. Interview data were then analysed using thematic analysis resulting in...

Many of the contemporary treatment recommendations and guides for adapting therapy for men originates from the context of the United States. This qualitative study invited 15 Australian therapists, who advertised themselves as working with men, to describe their recommendations for male-friendly counseling. Three themes and 14 subthemes were identi...

Sex on premises venues (SOPV) are frequented by GBMSM (gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men) and provide novel contexts for more sexually adventurous practices, including co-morbid recreational substance use among some patrons. Engaging with this subgroup provides unique insight into the experiences, sexual activity and substance use p...

In the current research climate, in which many autistic and autism communities are increasingly calling for a move towards collaborative forms of research, we consider how a loosely formed epistemological community may serve to challenge ‘business as usual’ in the academy. Mindful of the need to move beyond theory, we use this experience to concret...

The rise of social networking sites have provided a new avenue for interpersonal communication. Facebook, as the largest social networking site targeted at providing access to interpersonal social networks, has been found to be a source of social support. Facebook-based social support has been found to be beneficial across a number of health outcom...

With a rapidly growing global population of just over two billion users, Facebook has changed the way many people engage with each other. Whilst the autism community—autistic people, their families and carers, and their broader support network—are represented in this population there is limited research about how or why this community intends to us...

Background Innovative health promotion strategies are needed to improve access to HIV testing among regional people in Australia, particularly for men who have sex with men (MSM). This project aimed to establish proof of concept for point-of-care-testing (POCT) via a mobile van clinic at community ‘beat’ locations. Surveys evaluated client satisfac...

Increasing attention is being paid to how adults on the autism spectrum perceive and interpret the interoceptive sense. This 20-item Interoception Sensory Questionnaire represents a single factor scale that can be interpreted as representing confusion about interoceptive bodily states unless these states are extreme (Alexisomia), and has been desig...

Issue addressed: Australians living in peri-urban areas are insufficiently active, sedentary and experience poorer health than people in major cities. There are health benefits attributable to active lifestyles that could contribute to the improved health and well-being of this population. To support the adoption of active lifestyles, it is import...

The introduction to the book highlights the challenges relating to identity and stigma which are faced by a broad range of diversity groups in the workplace, specifically those relating to various types of disability, youth and ageing workers, gender and migrant work. The book also examines the influence of unions and acting collectively has had on...

This book has drawn together research from a variety of fields within the diversity and work context. Key themes relate to the roles of employers and unions in order to continue to advance the interests of these groups of workers as workplaces endeavour to become more inclusive. The influence of power structures and existing workplace culture has b...

Employees with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are vulnerable in the workplace due to the stigma associated with their condition. Negative attitudes of colleagues can compound misunderstandings of the identity of the individual related to their condition; thus, there are risks associated with revealing such a condition. Employees with stigmatised id...

This edited volume highlights relevant issues and solutions for diversity groups within the workplace. It explores issues of identity as they relate to attributes of gender, age, migrant labor, disability, and power in social spaces. Identity is rarely well-defined in many social spaces, and understandings that define belonging are often developed...

In this chapter, Brownlow et al. seek to explore the positioning of individuals with autism within clinical consultation sessions. They draw upon the previous work of Edley (Discourse as data: A guide for analysis. Sage, 2001) in applying the principles of critical discursive psychology to a section of data drawn from a clinical consultation sessio...

The Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Conditions (Q-ASC) was developed by Attwood et al. (2011) to identify gender-sensitive profiles of autism symptomatology; prioritise and adjust the direction of clinical interventions; and support positive psychosocial outcomes and prognosis into adulthood. The current research piloted the Q-ASC with parents of...

Psychology is a discipline which has high ethical standards required for research. APAC requirements state that all Honours students " should be given sufficient grounding in relevant…research ethics ". However, from the APAC documentation, it is ambiguous as to what constitutes, and therefore what would be acceptable evidence of, sufficient ground...

Over the past few decades, there have been calls to customize therapy for men. Researchers have increasingly become aware of the impact of masculinity on men and their psychological health, their willingness to seek help, and their experience of therapy. Recommendations have been published for how to enhance engagement and therapeutic change for me...

Background: Highlighted differences in the clinical research literature among children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) reflect a unique presentation of ASD among females, demonstrated by greater compensatory capacity and ability in social masking, camouflaging and imitation. It is argued that such presentation may have an inhibi...

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition increasing in overall prevalence and consequently impacting on the number of adolescents seeking post-school employment. A systematic literature review was conducted on the predictors of successful outcomes for adolescents with ASD post-compulsory education. An extensive search in educatio...

The Internet has extended the opportunity for researchers to investigate human actions and interactions. This study aims to critically examine the various ways that ethical considerations associated with Internet-Mediated Research (IMR) are constructed as a social reality by Australian Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) and the implications for...

In this paper we explore how our cultural contexts give rise to different kinds of knowledges of autism and examine how they are articulated, gain currency, and form the basis for policy, practice and political movements. We outline key tensions for the development of critical autism studies as an international, critical abilities approach. Our aim...

As critical scholars, we are interested in the social construction of ‘normal’ development in children and how this operates discursively through the construction of ‘other’ childhoods that are seen to be different from the norm. Ideas about ‘normal’ development are naturalised in and through psychological descriptions of children’s behaviours, par...

The desire to ‘be normal’ is something that has been discussed in relation to a range of groups within society, including drug users (Nettleton, Neale, & Pickering, 2012), adults with mental health issues (Spondenkiewicz et al., 2013), and people with disabilities (Lee & Lin, 2013). The commonality shared by each of these is that individuals are be...

span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> In this paper we discuss the notion of 'autistic friendship'. Drawing on articles published in the Swedish advocacy magazine Empowerment , written for and by autistic people, a thematic analysis explores two interrelated themes: the meaning and performance of friendship in non-autistic (...

Educational achievement is consistently linked to better employment outcomes for individuals, but navigating through higher education can be particularly challenging for regional, rural, and remote students. Some individuals face additional difficulties linked to personal disability, and a particularly vulnerable group are those individuals with an...

This study aimed to investigate the current gap in the literature with regard to how adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) interpret elements of the interoceptive sense, which includes thirst, hunger, temperature, satiety, and the prediction of onset of illness. Adults with a diagnosed ASD (n = 74; 36 males, 38 females) were compar...

This paper critically considers the discursive features of recorded therapy interactions to focus on how clients and therapists co-construct the therapeutic interaction.

Construction of adult life course and identity has typically been built around norms of partnering and parenting, placing single women who do not have children outside the norm. Studies undertaken with single women have found that relationship status was a key factor in their identity construction. In this study, we conducted semi-structured interv...

In this paper, we seek to explore the tensions between advocacy and self advocacy autistic movements in a Swedish context with a special focus on the meanings that enable the production of particular understandings of autism and the autistic subject. Drawing on articles written for the Swedish advocacy magazine Empowerment written for and by people...

Inclusive Education for individuals on the Autism Spectrum is a much sought after goal internationally. Many education facilities have donned to achieve this goal; however few have achieved it successfully without providing an independently designed facility tailored specifically for those on the Spectrum, ultimately losing the original goal. The c...

Within dominant approaches to autism and relationships, people with autism are assumed to be either unable to form relationships or are in need for educational interventions to be better equipped at managing relationships in a social world dominated by non-autistic people (neurotypicals). In this paper, we argue that broader constructions of friend...

This paper draws together empirical work that has been produced by the authors in two different autistic spaces: the Swedish magazine Empowerment produced by and aimed at adults with autism, and English-speaking autistic communities online. While the two points of data collection are quite different, there are important points of commonality that e...

Autism is a widely researched area and much emphasis has been placed in research on the differences between the autistic and non-autistic populations. Such research commonly draws on proposed deficits within people with autism in order to explain differences. This paper seeks to present an alternative understanding of differences and draws on writi...

An important element in the experiences of people with autism is the key role played by therapeutic interventions. This paper examines the role of therapeutic intervention and the construction of individuals with autism in the therapeutic relationship. The contributions to four online asynchronous discussion lists were analysed using discourse anal...

Researchers have proposed numerous theories to explain autism, ranging from those that are psychologically focused to those influenced by biology and neurology. Many theories of autism share the assumption that there is a deficit in people with autism that should be researched, classified, and, ultimately, modified if the hypothesis suggests that t...

The work presented in this paper is part of a larger project in which online asynchronous discussion groups were employed to examine how a range of contributors--including people with autism, parents of people with autism, and professionals working within the field of autism--view and understand autism. In this paper, we focus on the voices of peop...

Excerpts from current research with people who have autism using online discussion groups are provided. Two major themes emerged that focus on "expert" knowledge of autism and identity. In contrast to the image of people with autism being unable to speak for themselves, our research on chat rooms has demonstrated that these individuals are finding...

This paper details an analysis of BBC reporting of the proposed links between MMR and autism. The study aimed to identify main issues arising from the media reports into the link between MMR and the development of autism, and how these contribute to common understandings about people with autism. The study employed a form of discourse analysis to d...

Recent years have witnessed a rapid growth in Internet technologies, which offer new possibilities for researching hard to reach groups. However, research guidelines, which could aid research in this new forum, have not yet been fully developed. The focus of the article will be ethical issues that may arise from using the Internet as a research too...