Work Motivation of Adults with ASD: A Qualitative Exploratory Study

Background: Employment carries a pivotal role in adult life. For individuals with ASD, successful integration into the labor-market poses a central challenge upon entering adulthood. The need to overcome work-related obstacles highlights the importance of motivation, which fuels the process of initiating and maintaining employment over time. While the importance and complexity of work motivation of adults with ASD has been suggested (Cheak-Zamora, Teti & First, 2015; Scott et al., 2017), an empirical examination of the concept has not yet been carried out. Employment literature emphasizes intrinsic work motivation, defined as engagement in an activity primarily for its own sake, as a basis for higher work performance and satisfaction. For disadvantaged populations, such as adults with ASD, opportunities to actualize intrinsic motivation in an inherently interesting job might be limited (Blustein, 2013). Self Determination Theory (SDT) asserts that even in the absence of intrinsic motivation, fulfillment of basic psychological needs for competence, relatedness, and autonomy can lead to internalization of motivation, thus leading to better employment outcomes (Deci & Ryan, 2000).

Objectives: The current study aims to examine work motivation in adults with ASD through a person-centered approach, focusing on work motivation, specifically in relation to SDT.

Methods: Eleven participants (8 males 3 females, aged 28-47y) took part in the study. They had a formal diagnosis of ASD, and work experience of at least six consecutive months, within the two years prior to participation. Educational level ranged from a high-school diploma to a master's degree. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, containing general questions regarding work experience and motivation, along with specific questions guided by SDT. A thematic approach was employed for identifying and categorizing different aspects of work motivation (Shkedy, 2011).

Results: Work motivation expressed by the participants was almost exclusively extrinsic. The most common motives mentioned were: earning money, being independent, having a daily schedule, playing a part in society and meeting other people. Most of the participants reported that their work tasks were not inherently interesting or enjoyable. Themes relating to SDT assured the importance of basic psychological need satisfaction: feelings of social relatedness were shared, through experiences such as having a positive social atmosphere, helping colleagues in need and sharing 'inside-jokes'. These often differentiated a desired job from an undesired one; Competence was an important factor influencing job choice and satisfaction. It was mostly based on positive feedback from supervisors or colleagues; The extent of the need for autonomy varied between participants. Most of them stressed the need for guidance in situations that involve choosing among alternatives.

Conclusions: The current study provides preliminary data in support of the relevance of SDT to adults with ASD. SDT holds the promising possibility of facilitating more autonomous motivation by providing an environment that responds to basic needs, even in the absence of intrinsic motivation, demonstrated in this study. Motivation can be facilitated by providing an environment that offers social relatedness, giving feedback that promotes competence, and offering guidance and support in situations that require choice.