Designing a Cultural Consumption Model in the Autism Community: A Thematic Analysis Approach

Abstract

The present study aimed to develop a comprehensive conceptual model of cultural goods consumption among individuals with autism spectrum disorder. This qualitative study employed thematic analysis based on the Attride-Stirling approach. Participants included both theoretical and experiential experts (parents of children with autism and educational instructors), selected through purposive and snowball sampling until theoretical saturation was reached. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding. Credibility was ensured using member checking, peer debriefing, triangulation, and prolonged engagement with data. A total of 119 basic themes were extracted and organized into higher-level organizing and global themes . Findings revealed that cultural consumption in the autism community is a multidimensional and interactive process shaped by individual, environmental, and institutional factors. Organizing themes included consumption characteristics, therapeutic-developmental functions, educational interventions, institutional support, and cultural localization. The results indicated that the manner of consumption, rather than merely type or quantity, plays a decisive role in generating positive outcomes such as improved cognitive, emotional, and social functioning. Conversely, unregulated consumption may lead to negative consequences including anxiety, sensory overload, and social isolation. The proposed model suggests that cultural consumption in the autism community is a structured and context-dependent process requiring intentional design, institutional support, and culturally adapted content to maximize developmental and social outcomes.