Journal Article

Social Participation Among Young Adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Orsmond, Gael I., Sterzing, Paul R., Cooper, Benjamin P., Shattuck, Paul T., Anderson, Kristy A.

2013

Overview

Investigating social participation of young adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is important given the increasing number of youth aging into young adulthood. Social participation is an indicator of life quality and overall functioning. Using data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2, we examined rates of participation in social activities among young adults who received special education services for autism (ASD group), compared to young adults who received special education for intellectual disability, emotional/behavioral disability, or a learning disability. Young adults with an ASD were significantly more likely to never see friends, never get called by friends, never be invited to activities, and be socially isolated. Among those with an ASD, lower conversation ability, lower functional skills, and living with a parent were predictors of less social participation.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adult / Adult learning / Adults / Aging / Autism / Autism Spectrum Disorders / Autistic spectrum disorders / Behavior Problems / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Biological and medical sciences / Child and School Psychology / Child clinical studies / Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - psychology / Cohort Analysis / Community Relations / Data quality / Data Use / Day Programs / Developmental disorders / Emotional Disturbances / Emotional Problems / Female / Friends / Friendship / Health aspects / Humans / Infantile autism / Intellectual disabilities / Intellectual Disability / Interpersonal Competence / Interpersonal Relationship / Learning Disabilities / Longitudinal Studies / Male / Medical sciences / Mental Retardation / National Longitudinal Transition Study Spec Educ / National Surveys / Neurosciences / Occupational Therapy / Original Paper / Outcomes of Treatment / Participation / Pediatrics / People with disabilities / Pervasive Developmental Disorders / Physiological aspects / Politics of Education / Predictor Variables / Psychological aspects / Psychology / Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry / Psychopathology. Psychiatry / Public Health / Quality of life / Quality of Life - psychology / Risk factors / Social activities / Social aspects / Social Cognition / Social Isolation / Social Participation / Socialization / Special Education / United States / Young Adult / Young Adults / Young people