{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,1]],"date-time":"2026-09-01T09:18:04Z","timestamp":1788254284974,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,1]],"date-time":"2026-09-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788220800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University","award":["IMSIU-DDRSP2502"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["IMSIU-DDRSP2502"]}]},{"award":["IMSIU-DDRSP2502"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["IMSIU-DDRSP2502"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/05gxjyb39","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Educ. Sci.","Education Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Adolescence is a critical period for the development of self-determination, yet little is known about how autistic adolescents experience self-determination in non-Western contexts. Objective: This multiple case study explored self-determination among four autistic adolescents in Saudi Arabia through the lens of causal agency theory. Method: Each adolescent completed the Arabic version of the ARC Self-Determination Scale, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with each adolescent, a parent, and a special education teacher. Interview data were analysed using combined inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Results: Self-determination scores varied across adolescents, but all four rated themselves highest in self-regulation and lowest in psychological empowerment. Cross-case analysis of the interviews revealed three interrelated themes: beliefs and perceptions, actions and interactions, and adolescents\u2019 sense of self-determination. The findings show that adults\u2019 beliefs about adolescence, autism and the value of self-determination shaped everyday actions that either expanded or restricted opportunities for autonomy, competence and relatedness. Conclusions: The study extends current research by providing a culturally grounded, multi-layered account of self-determination among autistic adolescents in Saudi Arabia.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/educsci16091405","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,1]],"date-time":"2026-09-01T08:31:13Z","timestamp":1788251473000},"page":"1405","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Exploring Factors That Influence Self-Determination of Autistic Adolescents in Saudi Arabia"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-9667-2591","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Saleh","family":"Aba-Alkhayl","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Special Education, College of Education, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh 11432, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2976-4752","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Amanda A.","family":"Webster","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Education, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4405-3345","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kellie","family":"Buckley-Walker","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Education, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Alansari, R. 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