Parent-Reported Strengths and Positive Qualities of Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Intellectual Disability.
Ellen Wilkinson, Le Thao Vy Vo, Zoe London and 2 others
PMID 35064451WHAT IT FOUND
Parents reported strengths for 97% of autistic and intellectually disabled adolescents and adults.
Kindness and sociability were most common. Notably, 'work ethic' and 'motivation' emerged as distinct strengths, particularly in older participants, independent of IQ or verbal ability.
Key findings
0197% of parents reported at least one positive quality, with personality characteristics and sociability being the most frequently cited categories.
02A 'Work ethic/motivation' category emerged as a distinct strength, associated with older age and higher nonverbal IQ, but not with diagnostic group.
03The number of positive qualities reported was not associated with diagnostic group, gender, or levels of emotional and behavioral concerns.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (n=68) and drawn from a convenience sample, limiting statistical power. Participants were primarily white males with college-educated mothers, reducing generalizability. The measures used (CBCL/ABCL) were not specifically designed to assess positive qualities and may have missed subtler strengths. Data was parent-reported only, without input from the autistic individuals themselves. The study was cross-sectional and qualitative, so it cannot determine if these strengths cause better outcomes or are simply observed.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the lack of statistical association between diagnostic groups and the number of strengths as evidence that autism or intellectual disability does not impact the *type* or *expression* of strengths. The study found that while the *count* was similar, specific categories like 'Specific skills' and 'Sociability' varied by group, and the parent-report method may not capture how the individual experiences these strengths.