Brief Report: The Influence of Autism Severity and Depression on Self-Determination Among Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders 2022-06, Vol.52 (6), p.2825-2830
• Main Authors: White, Susan W., Smith, Isaac, Brewe, Alexis M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic adults; Autistic Disorder; Autonomy; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Brief Report; Child and School Psychology; Comorbidity; Complications and side effects; Correlation; Demographic aspects; Depression; Depression (Psychology); Depression in adolescence; Development and progression; Evaluation; Health aspects; Humans; Mental depression; Neurosciences; Pediatrics; Personal Autonomy; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Predictor Variables; Psychology; Public Health; Self Determination; Self-determination theory (Psychology); Severity; Severity (of Disability); Young Adult; Young Adults
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05145-y

Self-determination (SD) is linked to autonomy and better adult outcomes. Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often less independent than cognitively matched peers. Given the frequency with which depression co-occurs in ASD and the established association between depression and SD, we sought to evaluate the influence of both ASD severity and depression on SD among cognitively able emerging adults with ASD. Emerging adults ( n  = 59) with ASD completed measures of SD, ASD severity, and depression. Both ASD severity and depression were moderately correlated with SD ( r  = − 0.473; − 0.423, respectively) and with each other ( r  = 0.625). After controlling for ASD severity, depression did not significantly predict SD. Strengthening SD should be considered in programming to promote independence.