HMN 2025: What are the neurodivergent friendship patterns

New analysis from Abertay University has shed contemporary gentle on how neurodivergent (ND) folks kind and expertise friendships, highlighting a robust choice for constructing connections with others who share their neurotype.

The paper, published in Neurodiversity, is without doubt one of the first large-scale research to objectively discover how ND friendships perform and why they matter.

While it is usually assumed that ND folks (together with these with ADHD or autism) naturally gravitate towards each other, there was little onerous proof to again this up. But a brand new mixed-methods study from Dr. Rebecca Sharman, of Abertay’s Department of Sociological and Psychological Sciences, gives the clearest image but of how neurotype shapes friendship patterns.

The study exhibits that ND folks are inclined to have considerably extra ND buddies than neurotypical (NT) people do, and that persons are extra more likely to kind friendships with others who share their very own particular neurotype. For instance, autistic contributors reported having extra autistic buddies than another group.

The analysis additionally explored how each ND and NT folks expertise friendships with ND people. From greater than 170 detailed private accounts, a couple of key themes emerged—from the challenges of cross-neurotype communication to the consolation and ease of “talking the identical language” with fellow ND buddies.

Participants additionally highlighted a robust sense of mutual understanding, ‘”appropriate weirdness,” and emotional security in ND–ND friendships, although they famous that help might be advanced when each buddies are going through their very own challenges.

Dr. Sharman, whose analysis primarily focuses on neurodiversity and neurodivergent tradition, says the findings recommend that ND friendships could signify a definite cultural practice—with completely different expectations, communication kinds and ranges of emotional connection in comparison with conventional neurotypical norms.

Dr. Sharman stated, “There’s been a long-standing concept that ND folks simply aren’t involved in or good at making buddies. This analysis turns that on its head, exhibiting that ND friendships aren’t solely significant and profitable, however may additionally replicate a special means of connecting with others. That’s one thing value recognizing and celebrating.”