Autistic eye contact? A hermeneutic phenomenological multicenter study of the similarities and differences in eye-contact experiences between adults with and without autism

Eye contact is one of the most important forms of interpersonal communication. Nonetheless, research has shown that there is no gold standard for how eye contact should occur. Atypicalities in eye contact are one of the core features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but there is still no consensus on what constitutes atypical eye contact in ASD. The current research explores both the breadth and depth of experiences with eye contact in adults with and without ASD. We used a hermeneutic phenomenological multicenter design in which 15 adults with ASD and 15 adults without ASD were interviewed. Analyses using Multisite Qualitative Analysis (MSQA) and the PRICE model for saturation identified four themes: opinion on eye contact, experience of eye contact, approach toward eye contact, and needs regarding eye contact. Adults with and without ASD appeared to have overlapping and distinct experiences. This study provides the first insights into similarities and differences in experiences with eye contact in adults with and without ASD. The results provide guidance for future research and for the development of interventions to reduce problems arising from eye contact in ASD.