ArticleAutism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research2023
How do autistic people fare in adult life and can we predict it from childhood?
Article in Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- Understanding the Impact of Living Situation and Social Satisfaction on Depression and Substance Use in Autistic Young Adults Without Intellectual Disability.Autism in adulthood · 2026Article
- Predicting Post-School Outcomes in Autistic Young Adults One Year after High School Graduation.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2026Article
- Personalized Lifespan Approach to Autism Assessment: A Clinical and System Framework for Developmentally Informed Assessment Across the Life-Course.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2026Article
- Advances in supporting development in autistic children and youth.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2026Review
- Neurodevelopmental conditions and adaptive functioning - a co-twin control study.Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines · 2026Article
- Who Should Decide the Outcome for a Clinical Trial? Comparing the Views of Stakeholders on Intervention Benefit Using Multi-Criteria Decision Modelling of Cognitive Remediation.Schizophrenia bulletin · 2026Article
- Adapting Measures of Anxiety and Mood Disorders for Use with Autistic Adults: A Systematic Review.Current developmental disorders reports · 2026Review
- Methodological challenges and opportunities when studying the course of autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2025Article
- A Critical Appraisal of the Measurement of Adaptive Social Communication Behaviors in the Behavioral Intervention Context.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Longitudinal Predictors of Adaptive Functioning in Emerging Adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder.Research on child and adolescent psychopathology · 2025Article
- Longitudinal Analyses of Mental Health in Autistic Individuals: A Systematic Review.Brain sciences · 2024Review
- Mental health challenges faced by autistic people.Nature human behaviour · 2023Review
- How do autistic people fare in adult life and can we predict it from childhood?Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
This study describes social, mental health, and quality of life outcomes in early adulthood, and examines childhood predictors in the Special Needs and Autism Project (SNAP), a longitudinal population-based cohort. Young autistic adults face variable but often substantial challenges across many areas of life. Prediction of outcomes is important to set expectations and could lead to the development of targeted early intervention. Autistic children were enrolled at age 12 and parents reported outcomes 11 years later when their children were age 23 (n = 121). Thirty six percent of autistic adults were in competitive employment or education and 54% had frequent contact with friends. Only 5% of autistic adults were living independently, and 37% required overnight care. Moderate or severe anxiety and depression symptoms were found for 11% and 12% of young adults, respectively. Subjective quality of life was similar to UK averages except for social relationships. Using childhood IQ, autism traits and adaptive functioning meaningful predictions can be made of living situation, employment and education and physical health. Prediction was poor for friendships, mental health outcomes and other aspects of quality of life. Our results suggest that although young autistic adults face challenges across normative, social outcomes, they may be faring better in regard to mental health or quality of life. Childhood IQ, autism traits and adaptive functioning are most useful for predicting outcomes. After accounting for these factors, childhood measurements of behavioral and emotional problems and language offered little improvement in prediction of adult outcomes.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.