Autism through the ages: A mixed methods approach to understanding how age and age of diagnosis affect quality of life

GRAY ATHERTON, Emma Edisbury, ANDREA PIOVESAN, LIAM CROSS

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (journal)peer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)
120 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

A significant proportion of autistic adults today were not diagnosed until later in life, a group referred to as the ‘lost generation,’ which may affect mental health. In Study 1 we explored quality of life and autistic trait levels in 420 autistic and TD adults, and in Study 2 we explored the experiences of 8 autistic adults diagnosed as adults. We found that autistic adults had lower quality of life outcomes and higher autistic trait levels which related to age of diagnosis, and qualitative findings indicated that while adults were empowered by their new diagnosis, they still require specialized supports. Our findings are discussed, emphasizing future directions and lications
for the current care system in place for autistic adults.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3639-3654
JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume52
Early online date4 Sept 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Aug 2022

Keywords

  • autism
  • adulthood
  • mental health
  • autism quotient
  • quality of life
  • mixed methods

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