Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39871022›Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2026

Social Network Types in Autistic Adults and Its Associations with Mastery, Quality of Life, and Autism Characteristics.

Rinske M van den Heuvel, Jan-Pieter Teunisse, Tulsi A Radhoe, Wikke J van der Putten, Carolien Torenvliet, Si Wen, Michel Wensing, Hilde M Geurts

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

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.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors.

Rinske M van den HeuvelLeo Kannerhuis, Youz (Parnassia Group), Arnhem/Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.vandenheuvel@leokannerhuis.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3835-4686
Jan-Pieter TeunisseLeo Kannerhuis, Youz (Parnassia Group), Arnhem/Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Tulsi A RadhoeLeo Kannerhuis, Youz (Parnassia Group), Arnhem/Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Wikke J van der PuttenLeo Kannerhuis, Youz (Parnassia Group), Arnhem/Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Carolien TorenvlietDepartment of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Si WenDepartment of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Michel WensingDepartment of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Hilde M GeurtsLeo Kannerhuis, Youz (Parnassia Group), Arnhem/Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Funding

Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek 453-16-006
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Research shows heterogeneity in experiences of social contact and social networks in autistic adults. In this study, we aim to identify clusters of social support networks and investigate associations of clusters with mastery, quality of life, and autism characteristics. Autistic adults (N = 381; 45.7% female) aged between 30 and 90 years completed questionnaires on social support characteristics, mastery, autism characteristics, and quality of life. A two-step cluster analysis was used to identify clusters based on social support network items. The cluster analysis revealed three clusters: Cluster 1 (n = 238) with two or more close persons, sometimes including a romantic partner; Cluster 2 (n = 102) with solely a romantic partner as close person; and Cluster 3 (n = 41) without any close persons. Level of emotional support was the most important clustering indicator. People in Cluster 3 reported lower quality of life regarding social relationships and mastery, autism characteristics, and other quality of life scales were similar across clusters. Absence or presence of close persons significantly impacts quality of life regarding social relationships in autistic adults, which highlights the importance of addressing (satisfaction with) social support. In order to enhance quality of life, offering social network interventions to increase social support seems especially relevant for autistic people belonging to Cluster 3.

Indexed as

Autistic DisorderQuality of LifeSocial NetworkingSocial SupportAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCluster AnalysisFemaleHumansInterpersonal RelationsMaleMiddle AgedSocial InteractionSurveys and QuestionnairesAutismHeterogeneityQuality of LifeSocial networkSocial support

Identifiers

PMID39871022
PMCPMC13222182

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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.