Degree Name

MA (Master of Arts)

Program

Psychology

Date of Award

8-2025

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Alyson Chroust

Committee Members

Stacy Williams, Ginette Blackhart

Abstract

The internet is a widely used source of autism-related information, yet previous studies demonstrate that the quality, accuracy, and language used in such content remain inconsistent. This study conducted a content analysis of 356 autism-related internet sources obtained from top Google search results, examining their use of neurodiversity-affirming language, the quality of health-related information, and the inclusion of evidence-based interventions. Results showed that medical model language and person-first terminology were more common than neurodiversity-affirming language. Sources targeting caregivers were significantly more likely to use medical model language than those aimed at autistic adults. Only 12.92% of sources included quotes or citations from autistic individuals, yet those that did were significantly more likely to use affirming language preferred by the autistic community. Regarding health information quality, fewer than half of sources referenced peer-reviewed research, and the average reading level of the pages (12th grade) exceeded the recommended public health standard (6th grade). Although sources without author or reviewer credentials did not include a greater number of non-evidence-based interventions overall, they were more likely to explicitly recommend these interventions. DISCERN scores did not significantly differ by intervention type. These findings highlight a persistent gap between online autism content and the language preferences commonly expressed by autistic individuals, emphasizing the need for more inclusive, transparent, and evidence-based public health communication.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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