Variable patterns of daily activity participation across settings in autistic youth: A latent profile transition analysis.
Yun-Ju Chen, Eric Duku, Anat Zaidman-Zait and 10 others
PMID 36855223WHAT IT FOUND
Most autistic teens stay in low-participation groups at school and in the community from early to middle adolescence.
Only 8% are active across all settings. Environmental supportiveness predicted participation more strongly than income or IQ, suggesting barriers matter more than ability.
Key findings
01Participation patterns were generally stable from early to middle adolescence, with about 75% of youth staying in the same participation profile over time.
02Environmental supportiveness was a significant predictor of participation profile membership across home, school, and community settings, even after adjusting for other factors.
03Youth in the highest participation profiles had higher adaptive functioning and lower externalizing behaviour compared to those in lower participation profiles.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size decreased over time due to attrition, and the final longitudinal analysis included only 106 participants with complete data at both time points. All participation data was parent-reported, which may be biased by parental interpretations and expectations. The study relied on a single informant for many variables, which may overestimate the strength of associations. The sample was predominantly male (86%) and White (70%), limiting generalizability to autistic girls and non-White families. Attrition was higher at one specific site (Edmonton), which may introduce bias in the longitudinal results.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Autism Speaks, Government of British Columbia, Alberta Innovates Health Solutions, Kids Brain Health Network, and the Sinneave Family Foundation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that improving individual skills (such as social communication or motor planning) will automatically increase participation. The study found that environmental supportiveness was a stronger predictor of participation than IQ or autism severity, meaning that without addressing environmental barriers, skill-based interventions may not translate to real-world engagement.