Anxiety and Depression Reduction as Distal Outcomes of a College Transition Readiness Program for Adults with Autism.
Nicole N Capriola-Hall, Alexis M Brewe, Josh Golt and 1 others
PMID 32468396WHAT IT FOUND
The STEPS college transition program reduced depression symptoms in adults with autism compared to usual care, but did not change anxiety or loneliness.
Participants with greater difficulty regulating emotions reported more anxiety, depression, and isolation before starting treatment.
Key findings
01Participants in the STEPS group showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms over time compared to the control group.
02The intervention did not produce significant changes in anxiety or loneliness scores when compared to the control condition.
03Pre-treatment difficulties in self-regulation were positively correlated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (n=32), which limits the statistical power and generalizability of the findings. The outcomes relied entirely on self-report measures, which can be biased by the participants' awareness of their treatment assignment. The study did not track the use of other concurrent services, such as academic coaching, which could have influenced mood outcomes. The sample was predominantly Caucasian and had average or above-average cognitive abilities, so results may not apply to more diverse populations or those with intellectual disabilities.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the program treats anxiety or loneliness. The reduction in depression was a secondary outcome of a college-readiness intervention, not a direct treatment for mood disorders, and the sample size was too small to confirm these effects generally.