Early Pandemic Experiences of Autistic Adults: Predictors of Psychological Distress.
Vanessa H Bal, Ellen Wilkinson, L Casey White and 3 others
PMID 33559334WHAT IT FOUND
Nearly half of autistic adults reported moderate-to-severe psychological distress early in the pandemic.
Distress levels remained stable over two months despite worsening life disruptions. Frequent hopefulness predicted lower distress and greater resilience, suggesting emotional supports should target hope.
Key findings
0145% of participants reported psychological distress in the moderate-to-severe range, with 53.8% experiencing two or more symptoms for at least three days in the previous week.
02Psychological distress levels did not significantly change between the first and second survey, even though the number of disrupted life areas and overall negative impact increased.
03Participants who felt hopeful about the future three or more days a week reported lower distress and better coping than those who felt hopeful less frequently.
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
Data were collected very early in the pandemic (April to June 2020), likely underestimating the long-term negative impacts. The sample lacked racial and ethnic diversity (87.4% White) and included only legally independent adults who could self-report, excluding those with higher support needs. There were no pre-pandemic baseline measures of distress, so it is unknown if reported distress levels represented an increase from normal functioning. Attrition bias may be present, as older adults (who reported less impact) were more likely to complete the second survey.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. One author has received research funding from multiple pharmaceutical companies (Novartis, Roche, etc.) and served on advisory boards; another has a consulting contract with Yamo Pharmaceuticals. The authors declared no direct conflicts for this specific work.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that autistic adults were less impacted by social distancing because they may have had fewer social obligations. The study found high rates of distress and disruption, with females and younger adults reporting the most severe impacts.