Autistic Traits and College Adjustment.
Jane D McLeod, Elizabeth M Anderson
PMID 35796912WHAT IT FOUND
Higher levels of autistic traits predicted lower GPAs, more course failures, and poorer social outcomes in college students, even among those without an autism diagnosis.
Clinicians should support students struggling with these issues regardless of diagnostic status.
Key findings
01Autistic traits predicted academic difficulties and course failure independent of an autism diagnosis.
02Students with higher autistic trait scores reported lower friendship quality and less social support, regardless of diagnosis.
03Associations between autistic traits and academic outcomes were generally stronger for women than for men.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot determine if autistic traits cause poor adjustment or if struggling in college increases reported traits. All data was self-reported, including diagnoses and academic performance, which may be inaccurate. The sample was limited to Indiana institutions, so results may not generalize to other regions. The response rate was low (about 14% for the general sample), raising concerns about selection bias. The RAADS-14 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument, and may not capture all relevant traits like pragmatic language deficits.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a student without an autism diagnosis is not experiencing autism-related barriers. The study shows that high autistic traits predict significant academic and social struggles independent of diagnosis, meaning diagnostic status alone is a poor filter for identifying students who need support.