Impact of the Great Recession on Adults With Autism and Their Mothers.
Emily J Hickey, Leann Smith DaWalt, Daniel Bolt and 4 others
PMID 38147887WHAT IT FOUND
The Great Recession caused an immediate spike in problem behaviors for autistic adults and depressive symptoms for their mothers.
While employment and physical health remained stable, the recession halted the gradual improvement in behavior that had been occurring prior to 2007.
Key findings
01Problem behaviors in autistic adults increased significantly at the start of the recession and stopped improving in the years following, reversing a prior downward trend.
02Mothers experienced a significant increase in depressive symptoms at the time of the recession, though the rate of change did not differ afterward.
03The recession did not significantly affect the physical health of autistic adults or their mothers, nor did it change employment status for mothers or vocational independence for the adults.
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 sample was predominantly White/Caucasian (92.6%), limiting the generalizability of findings to other racial and ethnic groups. The study relied on maternal reports for all outcomes, including the autistic adult's health and behavior, which may introduce reporter bias. The analysis treated each outcome separately, so it could not determine if changes in one area (like maternal depression) caused changes in another (like adult problem behavior). The study did not include data from fathers or other caregivers, so the impact on the broader family system is not fully captured.
Declared interests
The research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (N.I.H., Extramural). The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that economic downturns universally harm physical health or employment in this population. The study found these specific outcomes remained stable, suggesting that existing service systems may provide a safety net for vocational and physical health, even while mental health and behavioral progress suffer.