I don’t have to prove anything anymore: Love and closeness in the relationships of people on the autism spectrum – narrative analysis

This article is a report from research that aimed to explore the experiences of love and closeness in the relationships of people on the autism spectrum. The method used was Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, or IPA. The data was obtained using a non-standardized, semi-structured interview. The analysis of the interviews shows three main themes: knowing who I am is the key to relationships; the spectrum of love; together it is easier. These topics took the form of quotes extracted from a couple’s narrative. This research material showed the experiences of closeness and love between a couple on the spectrum.