Rituals and routines: A Delphi study with autistic young people as the experts

Rituals and routines: A Delphi study with autistic young people as the experts | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 19 June 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Rituals and routines: A Delphi study with autistic young people as the experts Authors : Stephanie Petty 0000-0002-1453-3313 [email protected] , Victorina Clegg , and Amy Cantwell Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175035796.64252881/v1 255 views 93 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract We report an updated perspective on what autistic rituals and routines are because there is too little recognition of their variable appearances and underpinning functions. We conducted a novel Constructivist Grounded Delphi study with autistic young people as the experts (n=12) to reach consensus over three rounds. Rituals were autistic when they had a ‘have to do it’ quality, met personal limits (number, order, colour), and managed anxiety by subjectively organising the day (often linked to a belief that things will be OK). Examples were attention to left/right when dressing, counting when walking, or ending social interactions in a set way. Routines organised activities of daily living, and were used mostly at meals and bedtime. Autistic rituals and routines were characterised specifically by their emotional meaning and disruption to wellbeing when denied. We share this update with autistic people, their families, clinicians, and researchers who align with a non-pathologising approach. Supplementary Material File (manuscript.docx) Download 129.37 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 19 June 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords autistic delphi grounded theory repetitive behaviours rituals routines Authors Affiliations Stephanie Petty 0000-0002-1453-3313 [email protected] York St John University School of Education View all articles by this author Victorina Clegg Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust View all articles by this author Amy Cantwell York St John University School of Education View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 255 views 93 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Stephanie Petty, Victorina Clegg, Amy Cantwell. Rituals and routines: A Delphi study with autistic young people as the experts. Authorea . 19 June 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175035796.64252881/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. Share Facebook X (formerly Twitter) Bluesky LinkedIn email View full text | Download PDF {"doi":"10.22541/au.175035796.64252881/v1","type":"Article"} Now Reading: Share Figures Tables Close figure viewer Back to article Figure title goes here Change zoom level Go to figure location within the article Download figure Toggle share panel Toggle share panel Share Toggle information panel Toggle information panel Go to previous graphic Go to next graphic Go to previous table Go to next table All figures All tables View all material View all material xrefBack.goTo xrefBack.goTo Request permissions Expand All Collapse Expand Table Show all references SHOW ALL BOOKS Authors Info & Affiliations About FAQs Contact Us Directory RSS Back to top Powered by Research Exchange Preprints Help Terms Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences $(document).ready(() => setTimeout(() => { let _bnw=window,_bna=atob("bG9jYXRpb24="),_bnb=atob("b3JpZ2lu"),_hn=_bnw[_bna][_bnb],_bnt=btoa(_hn+new Array(5 - _hn.length % 4).join(" ")); $.get("/resource/lodash?t="+_bnt); },4000)); (function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'a003db215e8f1b23',t:'MTc3OTUzNzE2Mg=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();