16044
Psychosocial Outcomes of a Community Sample of High Functioning Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Objectives: To examine the effects of age, gender and professional diagnosis on ASD symptoms and psychosocial outcomes of a large sample of adults with HF-ASD purposefully recruited from the community. Four research questions were investigated: 1) do ASD symptoms and psychosocial outcomes improve across adulthood; 2) do men and women differ in their ASD symptoms and psychosocial outcomes; 3) do ASD symptoms and psychosocial outcomes differ between individuals who do and do not have a formal diagnosis; and 4) do these latter two factors interact with age?
Methods: Participants were 397 individuals (160 male, 237 female; age range 21 – 73 years) with HF-ASD who met cut-off criteria on the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), a brief screening questionnaire designed to measure degree of ASD symptomatology in adults (Baron-Cohen et al., 2001). Participants completed online questionnaires regarding ASD symptomatology and psychosocial functioning including education, adaptive skills, employment, living arrangements, relationships and parental status.
Results: Participants in their 20s tended to report completing high school or less. Older participants reported completing college or undergraduate education (F(3,380) = 7.61). Participants in their 20s reported being able to complete adaptive skills independently a little more than “sometimes”. Participants in their 50’s reported completing skills independently “most of the time” (F(3,381) = 3.57, p = .01). Older people were more likely to have been in a relationship (Chi-square(3) = 38.69, p = .00) and to have children (Chi-square(3) = 71.10 , p = .00). Men were more likely to be employed full-time (Chi-square(3) = 19.56 , p = .00) and women were more likely to have been in a long-term relationship (Chi-square(1) = 22.80 , p = .00). Finally, people with a professional diagnosis had significantly higher AQ scores (F(1,381) = 5.86, p = .02), however this difference was not clinically meaningful (m = 40 vs. m= 39).
Conclusions: People with HF-ASD continue to further their education and to acquire skills throughout their adult years. In keeping with the general population, people with HF-ASD seem to be entering into relationships and having children in their 30’s. Few gender differences were found. Finally, the results also suggest that people without a formal diagnosis are functioning at a level similar to those with a formal diagnosis.
See more of: Adult Outcome: Medical, Cognitive, Behavioral