"Det är inte diagnosen som styr behovet" : En studie om socialarbetares erfarenheter och kunskap om trauman hos unga kvinnor med autism

Sammanfattning: Previous studies have pointed to a need for further research regarding young women with autism and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or experiences of trauma, especially within psychiatric social work. The aim of this study was to examine how social workers reflect on their experiences and knowledge of trauma among young women with autism. Furthermore, the aim was to deepen the understanding of their knowledge and experiences that exist and are needed to make these women visible in psychiatric social work. The method chosen was qualitative, and eight semi-structured interviews with professionals within psychiatric social work geographically spread across Sweden were conducted. Due to Covid-19, all interviews were made digitally in the form of video calls. For the thematic analysis a social constructive approach was used, focusing on the theoretical concepts of knowledge, identity, stigma and empowerment. The results showed challenges for the interviewees in their work, due to a complexity that young women with autism carry, including self-harming behaviour. The fact that it may take time to identify the women’s particular necessities and needs of support, was highlighted, as the women were described as often being good at hiding their symptoms for their identity building. However, the interviewees did show knowledge about how to make the young women with autism visible, and on how to support them against social stigma. Although it was clear that knowledge about the combination of autism and PTSD among young women varied, the majority of the interviewees had noticed trauma among the young women with autism even though they had not been diagnosed with PTSD. The study concludes that a disposition of empowerment during the professionals’ meetings with the clients is crucial and so is the courage to ask difficult questions concerning the life story and social context of each individual, in order to prevent young women with autism to struggle with unprocessed traumas.