The purpose of this research study is to examine the effect of sexual trauma within the autistic community as it interacts with other risk factors such as sexual trauma and dissociation to increase self-harm risks. We want to better understand the varying sources of stress and risk that autsitc individuals may face as they relate to self-harm tendencies and risk, and possible biological measures that could help predict these relationships. These data will help better inform prevention protocols to support those at risk in the autistic community.

To achieve this, we plan to recruit 30 autistic adults to provide one hair sample and two saliva samples and complete an online survey. We will ask questions about the experience with identiy variables as well as other factors such as dissociation, and past trauma. We hope to better understand how different combinations of experiences within the autistic community may impact self-harm behaviors and how these factors may interact with stress physiology.