Principal Investigator(s):
Lisa Beccera
Grant Type:
Graduate Research
Funding:
$1,920
Organization:
University of Kansas
Year Awarded:
2026
Status:
In Progress
Location:
Lawrence, Kansas
Topics:
Social and Communication Skills
Abstract
Autism research in the United States has often overlooked the cultural contexts of underrepresented communities. This gap raises critical questions about how emotional culture and systemic structures intersect to shape how emotions are expressed, suppressed or regulated, which can profoundly impact mental health. Autistic individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, face higher risks of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (Hudson et al., 2019; Singh & Bunyak, 2019; Reid et al., 2024). Despite the rising prevalence of autism in Hispanic or Latino children, there is limited research on the impact of emotional culture in autistic Latino adults (CDC, 2023; Singh & Bunyak, 2019). While there has been promising research in culturally adapted programs that enhance the emotional well-being of families and improve outcomes for children with autism, limited research around lived experiences of autistic Latino adults continues to be an issue (Calzada et al., 2010). For Latino autistic adults, this means their expressions of emotion and the interpretations of those expressions, which are typically framed within expectations of loyalty, interdependence, and respect, are rarely at the forefront of research. Exploring the impact of emotional culture in Hispanic or Latino families allows for a deeper understanding of how autistic Latino adults express emotions, maintain mental health, and sustain meaningful relationships. The proposed study has the capacity to provide unique and necessary information in relation to emotional culture within autistic, marginalized communities. This study aims to explore the emotional and cultural dynamics, social interactions, and family dynamics of autistic Latino young adults and their parents, focusing on the voices and experiences of autistic adults with diverse communication strengths and preferences, such as speech, AAC, and multimodal communication. Semi-structured interviews, audio diaries, and perspective taking tasks will be used to triangulate findings.
