Examining the therapeutic benefits of 鈥楤lue Space鈥� exposure for autistic adults with sensory processing difficulties: A randomised controlled trial
Tom鈥檚 work examines how exposure to, and spending time in, natural environments may impact beneficially on human psychological health and wellbeing.
More specifically, exploring the effects of exposure to natural 鈥榖lue spaces鈥� (such as coastal environments, ocean鈥檚, rivers, lakes, etc) on people with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and how such spaces may offer a therapeutic effect on autistic people鈥檚 mental health and sensory wellbeing.
Tom鈥檚 work is rooted in eco-social work and the scientific study of salutogenesis鈥�, in other words, the origins and factors which positively contribute to human health and wellbeing (as opposed to the causes of illness) a concept which shares similarities with strengths-based social work theories.
Several existing and high-quality studies have pointed toward the salutogenic benefits of 鈥榖lue spaces鈥� on the general population, including the beneficial impacts on mental health and wellness (Gascon et al., 2017). However, there is limited research on 鈥榖lue space鈥� and autistic populations, representing a gap in knowledge.
Acknowledging the high prevalence of cooccurring mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety and the concerning rates of suicidality in autistic people, which are commonly exasperated by difficulties/differences in modulating everyday sensory stimuli (SPD), Tom hopes that his thesis will begin to explore how natural 鈥榖lue spaces鈥� may hold the potential to reduce the impact of mental illness and sensory distress in the autistic population.
Approaching the study from an epistemologically positivist perspective, working deductively, and draws on existing theoretical models such as Wilson鈥檚 (1984) 鈥楤iophilia Hypothesis鈥�, Ulrich鈥檚 (1984) 鈥楽tress Reduction Theory鈥� and Kaplan and Kaplan鈥檚 (1989) 鈥楢ttention Restoration Theory鈥�, to inform his research design and methodological approach. Using an experimental style, Tom鈥檚 research design comprises a three-arm randomised control trial with factorial design. The study examines four key research questions:
To what extent does 鈥榖lue space鈥� immersion improve psychological/psycho-social wellbeing in adults with ASD and SPD.
To what extent does 鈥榖lue space鈥� proximity improve psychological/psycho-social wellbeing in adults with ASD and SPD
To what extent does 鈥榖lue space鈥� immersion improve sensory modulation in adults with ASD and SPD
To what extent does 鈥榖lue space鈥� proximity improve sensory modulation in adults with ASD and SPD
A secondary aim of the study is to explore how the localised 鈥榗ooling鈥� properties of proximity and immersion to blue spaces may mitigate some of the impact of climate change related heatwaves, which are likely to become increasingly challenging for autistic people who are often particularly sensitive to extreme sensory information.
The study employs a three-arm randomised controlled trial, whereby participants will be recruited and randomly allocated to one of three groups: an immersion group who will be assigned a programme of structured water-based activities, (such as surfing, scuba diving, wild swimming). A proximity group who will be assigned a walking/travelling route programme nearby and in view of natural blue space and a control group who will receive no intervention. The study will use existing and well established psychological, sensory and wellbeing measures, such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Adult Sensory Profile and WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire, establishing pre- and post- intervention metrics which will be statistically analysed by analysis of variance between the three groups (ANNOVA).
Tom hopes that his work will build on the existing knowledge of the psycho-social effects of natural environments and nature-based interventions, and how such phenomena might apply to neurodiverse populations who are under-represented in this field of study. He hopes that his work will provide evidence toward alternative and non-pharmacological interventions which may reduce the impact of mental ill health and sensory distress in autistic people and have implications for the NHS and Local Authorities, urban and environmental planners. Additionally, Tom hopes that this work may contribute to the UN agenda for sustainable development by identifying options to further develop climate resilience strategies for marginalised populations (United Nations, 2022).
Tom Woods is a social worker and team manager who has worked predominantly with autistic people and people with learning disabilities since completing his MA in Social Work at the 51黑料网 Southbank University in 2018. Tom currently co-manages a county-wide integrated autism and ADHD service, whilst undertaking his MPhil/PHD in Social Work and Social Policy on a part-time basis at Goldsmiths.
Having grown up on the coast in rural South Devon, Tom鈥檚 formative years were spent in nature, exploring Devon鈥檚 hidden and lesser-known coastlines looking for waves and untouched natural beauty. Tom is a keen surfer, paddleboarder and self-declared 鈥榯halassophile鈥� (person who loves the ocean). He is drawn to the sea and the beach and his personal experience of the mental calmness and clarity he gets from being in the water is the foundation and inspiration for his research interests.
Since completing his MA degree, Tom has been a guest lecturer at 51黑料网 Southbank University, teaching individual lectures on the Social Work MA course. He is now continuing his academic development by undertaking the MPhil/PHD Social Work and Social Policy programme at Goldsmiths and hopes that his learning and research throughout his PHD will expand on the eco-social work paradigm, which explores the holistic and systemic interconnection between humans, the natural environment and its鈥� ecosystems.