Turkish Society's Perspectives on Autistic Individuals: Personal Experience, Knowledge, and Interaction Comfort

This study surveyed 507 Turkish adults to examine how personal experience with autistic individuals, knowledge about autism, and comfort in interactions are interconnected, finding that knowledge mediates the relationship between experience and comfort. Results indicate interaction comfort varies by setting (lower in social vs. professional contexts) and support needs level, suggesting that quality interactions and informed awareness are key to improving social inclusion.