Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38285097›Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2025

Describing Outcomes in Autistic Young Adults One Year After High School Graduation.

Gael I Orsmond, Sharada G Krishnan, Elizabeth G S Munsell, Ellen S Cohn, Wendy J Coster

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Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Gael I OrsmondDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. gorsmond@bu.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4133-7326
Sharada G KrishnanDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Elizabeth G S MunsellPearson Assessments, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Ellen S CohnDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Wendy J CosterDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.

Funding

Institute of Education Sciences R324A160113
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeResearch documents poor outcomes for autistic adults in the domains of employment, independent living, and social relationships. Measurement and sample limitations in prior studies may have amplified past estimates of poor outcomes. The goal of the current study was to improve upon past approaches and to create and describe a measurement approach to capture adult outcomes that reflected the context of young adulthood and the perspectives of autistic individuals, pairing objective outcome indicators with subjective satisfaction indicators.

methodsThirty-six autistic young adults (mean age 19.8 years) and a parent completed self-report surveys. Using these data, we defined an objective and subjective (i.e., satisfaction) outcome indicator in each of three domains: productivity (employment or post-secondary education), social well-being (frequency of contact with friends), and living situation (autonomy).

resultsThree-quarters of young adults experienced at least 5 out of 6 positive outcomes. Over 90% were engaged in school, work, or a structured transition program, and an equal percentage were satisfied with their productivity activity. Over three-quarters of adults had a good amount of contact with friends and were satisfied with their social life. Most young adults had a moderate level of autonomy in their daily lives, and all were satisfied with their living situation.

conclusionTailoring outcome measurement approaches specifically for autistic young adults provided a more optimistic portrayal of outcomes than previously noted in the literature. The approach used better reflects a neurodiversity approach and may be useful for evaluating the effectiveness of transition services or interventions.

Indexed as

Autistic DisorderEmploymentPersonal SatisfactionAdolescentAdultFemaleFriendsHumansInterpersonal RelationsMaleSocial BehaviorSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAdultsAutism spectrum disordersQuality of lifeVocation/labor force participation

Identifiers

PMID38285097

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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.