The impact of early stages of COVID-19 on the mental health of autistic adults in the United Kingdom: A longitudinal mixed-methods study.
Rebecca Bundy, Will Mandy, Laura Crane and 6 others
PMID 35083922WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic adults' mental health did not worsen overall during early lockdown.
Anxiety and stress scores fell on average, but individual reactions varied widely. Loss of routine, uncertainty and reduced support predicted decline, while social contact and leisure activities predicted improvement.
Key findings
01Prospective data showed overall anxiety and stress scores decreased during early lockdown, while depression scores stayed the same, contrasting with retrospective reports where most participants felt worse.
02Individual responses varied significantly: while group means improved, 20% of participants experienced a reliable increase in anxiety and 36% showed an increase in depression.
03Reduced access to support services and uncertainty about lockdown measures predicted worsening mental health, whereas engaging in social activities and maintaining routines predicted improvement.
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 recruited online and from support groups, meaning participants were less likely to be totally isolated pre-pandemic and may not represent the wider autistic population. There was a female dominance in the sample, which limits generalizability to autistic men and non-binary individuals. The study lacked a non-autistic comparison group, so it cannot determine if autistic adults were more or less vulnerable than the general population. Prospective data covered only two time points, preventing analysis of longer-term trends or nonlinear changes. The questionnaire format may have excluded autistic adults with significant intellectual or language difficulties.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The study received no financial support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that all autistic adults' mental health improved during lockdown. While group averages showed reduced anxiety and stress, a significant minority experienced worsening symptoms, and retrospective reports suggested most people felt worse. Individual variation is high, so clinicians should assess each patient's specific experience of routine, support access, and sensory environment rather than relying on group trends.