Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

This study investigated the online experiences of 10 adolescents with Asperger's Disorder (AD). This study was exploratory in nature and employed a qualitative approach. Three research questions guided this study: (a) What are the positive and negative online experiences of youth with ASD?, (b) What are the perceptions of online interactions in comparison to offline interactions held by youth with ASD?, and (c) What experiences with social connectedness and cyberbullying do youth with ASD have as a result of Internet usage? Four themes and 14 subthemes emerged during the process of analyzing the data: (a) Benefits of Internet Usage (Social, Emotional,Educational, and Interests); (b) Bringing People Closer (Reducing the Miles in Between, Accessibility to People, and Easier Communication); (c) Negative Social Interactions (Negativity, Trolling, and Cyberbullying); (d) Combating Negative Social Interactions (Prevention, Avoid/Ignore/Leave, Support of Peers, Seek Help from Adults/Authority Figures). Results from this study suggest that youth with ASD generally have positive experiences on the Internet. These positive experiences translate into many benefits that impact the development of youth with ASD. When faced with social experiences online, participants demonstrated how perceptive and resourceful they can be in finding ways to solve their problems. These findings demonstrate the potential for youth with ASD to learn, grow, and overcome various ASD symptomologies through online interactions and activities.

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