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Game Changer: Exploring the Role of Board Games in the Lives of Autistic People.

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Title: Game Changer: Exploring the Role of Board Games in the Lives of Autistic People.
Authors: Cross, Liam (AUTHOR), Belshaw, Francesca (AUTHOR), Piovesan, Andrea (AUTHOR), Atherton, Gray (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. Oct2025, Vol. 55 Issue 10, p3478-3497. 20p.
Subjects: Pearson correlation (Statistics), Focus groups, Data analysis, Mental health, Research funding, Autism, Interviewing, Questionnaires, Kruskal-Wallis Test, Psychological well-being, Human growth, Disease prevalence, Chi-squared test, Mann Whitney U Test, Descriptive statistics, Games, Hobbies, Motivation (Psychology), Thematic analysis, People with mental illness, Research methodology, Statistics, Ability, Research, Asperger's syndrome, Phenomenology, Interpersonal relations, Comparative studies, Patients' attitudes, Cognition, Training, Friendship
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
Abstract: This mixed methods paper reports findings from three studies examining the overlap between autism and hobbyist board gaming. The first was a quantitative survey of over 1600 board gamers, showing that autistic individuals are overrepresented in this hobby compared to the general population and that autistic traits measured by the AQ are significantly elevated amongst board gamers. Study 1 also assessed gamers' motivations and preferences and reported key differences as well as similarities between autistic and non-autistic gamers. The second was a qualitative study that reported the results of 13 interviews with autistic individuals who are hobbyist board gamers. Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), four key themes were uncovered, including a preference for systemising, escapism and passions, the social lubrication effect of games and difficulties with deception. In the third, 28 autistic individuals were introduced to board games in groups of 5–10 over an afternoon. Subsequent focus groups were then analysed using IPA. This analysis uncovered themes around how board games are challenging but encouraged growth and how they were an alternative vehicle for forging social relationships. Through this paper, we discuss how and why board games may be a popular hobby amongst the autistic population, and its potential utility for improving autistic wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Game Changer: Exploring the Role of Board Games in the Lives of Autistic People.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Autism+%26+Developmental+Disorders%22">Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders</searchLink>. Oct2025, Vol. 55 Issue 10, p3478-3497. 20p.
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  Data: This mixed methods paper reports findings from three studies examining the overlap between autism and hobbyist board gaming. The first was a quantitative survey of over 1600 board gamers, showing that autistic individuals are overrepresented in this hobby compared to the general population and that autistic traits measured by the AQ are significantly elevated amongst board gamers. Study 1 also assessed gamers' motivations and preferences and reported key differences as well as similarities between autistic and non-autistic gamers. The second was a qualitative study that reported the results of 13 interviews with autistic individuals who are hobbyist board gamers. Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), four key themes were uncovered, including a preference for systemising, escapism and passions, the social lubrication effect of games and difficulties with deception. In the third, 28 autistic individuals were introduced to board games in groups of 5–10 over an afternoon. Subsequent focus groups were then analysed using IPA. This analysis uncovered themes around how board games are challenging but encouraged growth and how they were an alternative vehicle for forging social relationships. Through this paper, we discuss how and why board games may be a popular hobby amongst the autistic population, and its potential utility for improving autistic wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10803-024-06408-0
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Pearson correlation (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Focus groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Mental health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autism
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      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
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      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
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      – SubjectFull: Kruskal-Wallis Test
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      – SubjectFull: Psychological well-being
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      – SubjectFull: Human growth
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      – SubjectFull: Disease prevalence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chi-squared test
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mann Whitney U Test
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
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      – SubjectFull: Games
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hobbies
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      – SubjectFull: Motivation (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Friendship
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      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
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      – TitleFull: Game Changer: Exploring the Role of Board Games in the Lives of Autistic People.
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              Text: Oct2025
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