Autistic individuals often face challenges in social interaction due to differences in communication styles, sensory sensitivities, and difficulty interpreting social cues.
These factors can make forming and maintaining friendships challenging. However, autistic people still desire social connections.
Structured activities with clear rules and shared interests, like tabletop role-playing games, can provide a more comfortable environment for socializing.
These activities offer predictability and common ground, potentially reducing anxiety and allowing for more authentic interactions without the need for masking autistic traits.
Atherton, G., Hathaway, R., Visuri, I., & Cross, L. (2024). A critical hit: Dungeons and Dragons as a buff for autistic people. Autism, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241275260
Key Points
- Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons can provide social benefits and a safe space for autistic adults to interact and develop relationships.
- Participating in TTRPGs allowed autistic players to experience more successful social interactions compared to everyday life, reducing the need for masking autistic traits.
- The structured nature of TTRPGs, shared interests, and collaborative storytelling facilitated easier social engagement for autistic participants.
- Players experienced “bleed” between their characters and real lives, allowing them to explore different personas and reframe their own life experiences.
- TTRPGs may offer a neurodiversity-affirming leisure activity that accommodates different play and interaction styles preferred by autistic individuals.
- Limitations include a small, self-selected sample size and participants having prior TTRPG experience.
- This research highlights the potential of TTRPGs as a tool for improving social connections and well-being in the autistic community.
Rationale
Autistic individuals often experience challenges in social interaction and smaller social networks compared to neurotypical peers (Rowley et al., 2012; Atherton et al., 2021).
However, social connection remains equally important for autistic people (Jaswal & Akhtar, 2019). Many autistic individuals engage in masking behaviors to fit in socially, which can negatively impact mental health (Cook et al., 2021; Cage & Troxell-Whitman, 2019).
This study aimed to investigate how tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) could provide a safe space for autistic adults to develop authentic social connections without the need for masking.
Previous research has shown TTRPGs can offer psychological benefits (Henrich & Worthington, 2023) and may be particularly appealing to autistic individuals (Fein, 2015).
Method
The study employed a qualitative approach using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore the experiences of autistic adults participating in a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaign.
Participants engaged in six weekly online D&D sessions led by one of the researchers acting as the game master.
Following the campaign, semi-structured interviews were conducted to discuss participants’ experiences interacting within and outside of the TTRPG setting.
The interview schedule consisted of 11 open-ended questions covering topics such as social interactions, opinions on tabletop games, and feelings about autism in relation to TTRPG experiences.
Sample
Eight autistic adults (4 males, 2 females, 1 nonbinary, 1 gender fluid) aged 20-34 years (M = 23.25, SD = 4.46) participated in the study.
Participants were from diverse backgrounds (4 British, 3 American, 1 Brazilian; 7 White, 1 Latinx) and all confirmed having a professional autism diagnosis.
They were recruited through social media advertisements in D&D and TTRPG online communities.
Results
Three superordinate themes emerged from the IPA analysis:
1. Social Motivation
Participants expressed a desire for social connection but found everyday interactions challenging.
One participant shared:
“I think every autistic person has had multiple instances of social rejection and loss of relationships. You’ve done something wrong. You don’t know what it is. They don’t tell you, and you find out when you’ve been just, you know, left shunned in relationships, left out, and it’s, you know, it’s traumatic.”
2. More Successful Interactions in TTRPGs
Players reported experiencing easier and more positive social interactions during the D&D sessions compared to everyday life.
A participant noted:
“I seem to have better interactions with Dungeons and Dragons than any other activity. Maybe that’s why I do Dungeons and Dragons so well. Because it’s specifically a group game. There’s no real player-vs-player aspect and you know there’s no competitiveness. It’s a group activity.”
3. Bleed and Emotional Investment
Participants described experiencing “bleed” between their game characters and real-life selves, allowing for personal exploration and growth.
One player shared:
“I also think a lot of the themes of fantasy can be very compelling to people who are part of the minority group. If you have autism and you don’t feel like you fit in, then you know you’re obviously gonna relate to a hero’s journey story where someone doesn’t fit in and then they find out that ohh. . . they have magic powers. And you think ‘wouldn’t it be cool if what was different about me was actually, you know, really awesome’.”
Insight and Depth
This study provides valuable insights into how TTRPGs can serve as a neurodiversity-affirming leisure activity for autistic adults.
The structured nature of TTRPGs, combined with shared interests and collaborative storytelling, created an environment where autistic players felt more comfortable engaging socially.
The concept of “bleed” between game characters and real-life experiences allowed participants to explore different aspects of their identities and reframe their own life narratives in a positive light.
This research highlights the potential of TTRPGs to provide a safe space for autistic individuals to develop authentic social connections without the need for masking, potentially improving overall well-being and self-esteem.
Implications
The findings suggest that TTRPGs could be a valuable tool for improving social connections and well-being in the autistic community.
By providing a structured, interest-based social activity, TTRPGs may help reduce social anxiety and the need for masking in autistic adults.
The collaborative nature of these games could also foster teamwork and communication skills that may transfer to other areas of life.
Healthcare professionals, educators, and community organizers working with autistic individuals could consider incorporating TTRPGs into social skills interventions or support group activities.
Additionally, the concept of “bleed” between game characters and real-life experiences may have therapeutic potential, allowing individuals to explore and reframe their personal narratives in a safe, imaginative context.
Strengths
The study had several methodological strengths, including:
- Use of a neurodiversity-affirming approach that valued autistic perspectives and experiences
- Community involvement in developing the research protocol and providing feedback
- A research team primarily composed of neurodivergent individuals, including autistic researchers
- Use of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to capture rich, detailed accounts of participants’ experiences
- Provision of interview questions to participants in advance, allowing for reflection and preparation
- Conducting the D&D campaign and interviews online, potentially reducing sensory and social barriers for participants
Limitations
The study has several limitations that should be considered:
- Small sample size (n=8) limits generalizability of findings
- Self-selected sample of participants with prior TTRPG experience may not represent the broader autistic population
- Limited demographic diversity, with mostly white participants from Western countries
- Short-term nature of the study (6-week campaign) may not capture long-term effects or sustainability of benefits
- Online format of the D&D campaign and interviews may have impacted the social dynamics compared to in-person interactions
- Potential researcher bias due to the game master also conducting interviews and analyzing data
These limitations suggest the need for larger, more diverse studies with longer-term follow-up to confirm and expand upon the findings.
Conclusion
This study highlights the potential of tabletop role-playing games as a neurodiversity-affirming leisure activity that can provide social benefits for autistic adults.
By offering a structured, interest-based environment for social interaction, TTRPGs may help reduce the need for masking and facilitate more authentic connections among autistic individuals.
The concept of “bleed” between game characters and real-life experiences also presents interesting possibilities for personal growth and narrative reframing.
While the study has limitations, its findings suggest that TTRPGs could be a valuable tool for improving social experiences and well-being in the autistic community.
Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of TTRPG participation, potential applications in therapeutic settings, and ways to make these games more accessible to a diverse range of autistic individuals.
As we continue to develop neurodiversity-affirming approaches to supporting autistic people, it is crucial to recognize the complexity of autistic experiences and the importance of creating inclusive spaces that celebrate neurodiversity.
References
Primary reference
Atherton, G., Hathaway, R., Visuri, I., & Cross, L. (2024). A critical hit: Dungeons and Dragons as a buff for autistic people. Autism, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241275260
Other references
Atherton, G., Edisbury, E., Piovesan, A., & Cross, L. (2022). Autism through the ages: A mixed methods approach to understanding how age and age of diagnosis affect quality of life. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05235-x
Cage, E., & Troxell-Whitman, Z. (2019). Understanding the reasons, contexts and costs of camouflaging for autistic adults. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 49(5), 1899-1911. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-03878-x
Cook, J., Hull, L., Crane, L., & Mandy, W. (2021). Camouflaging in autism: A systematic review. Clinical psychology review, 89, 102080. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102080
Fein, E. (2015). Making meaningful worlds: Role-playing subcultures and the autism spectrum. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry, 39, 299-321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11013-015-9443-x
Henrich, S., & Worthington, R. (2023). Let your clients fight dragons: A rapid evidence assessment regarding the therapeutic utility of ‘Dungeons & Dragons’. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 18(3), 383-401. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2021.1987367
Jaswal, V. K., & Akhtar, N. (2019). Being versus appearing socially uninterested: Challenging assumptions about social motivation in autism. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 42, e82.
Rowley, E., Chandler, S., Baird, G., Simonoff, E., Pickles, A., Loucas, T., & Charman, T. (2012). The experience of friendship, victimization and bullying in children with an autism spectrum disorder: Associations with child characteristics and school placement. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6(3), 1126-1134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2012.03.004
Keep learning
Suggested Socratic questions for a college class to discuss this paper:
- How might the structured nature of TTRPGs benefit autistic individuals in social interactions? Can you think of other activities or environments that might offer similar benefits?
- The study found that participants experienced “bleed” between their game characters and real-life selves. How might this phenomenon be used therapeutically? What potential risks or ethical considerations should be considered?
- The research focused on autistic adults playing TTRPGs with other autistic individuals. How might the dynamics change in a mixed group of autistic and neurotypical players? What potential benefits or challenges could arise?
- The study suggests that TTRPGs can provide a safe space for autistic individuals to interact without masking. How might this impact long-term social skill development and well-being? Are there potential drawbacks to creating autism-specific social spaces?
- How might the findings of this study inform the development of social interventions or support programs for autistic individuals? What considerations should be taken into account when applying these findings to real-world settings?
- The research team was primarily composed of neurodivergent individuals, including autistic researchers. How might this have influenced the study design, implementation, and interpretation of results? What are the potential benefits and limitations of this approach?
- Given the limitations of the study, what future research directions would you propose to further explore the potential benefits of TTRPGs for autistic individuals?
- How might the concepts of “parallel play” and “shared interest” in TTRPGs relate to broader discussions about neurodiversity and inclusive social environments?
- The study touches on the idea of TTRPGs allowing players to “rewrite their personal narratives.” How might this concept be applied to other areas of support or therapy for autistic individuals?
- How do the findings of this study challenge or support existing assumptions about autistic social motivation and interaction preferences?
