Background: Poor mental health is known to adversely affect functional abilities, social isolation, and quality of life (QoL). It is, therefore, crucial to consider the long-term impacts of mental health conditions as autistic adults grow older.
Objectives: To explore, in a group of community-based autistic adults, the extent of: (i) autistic traits, co-occurring physical and mental health conditions; (ii) age-related differences in those conditions, and changes over time; and (iii) their impact on everyday living and QoL.
Method: About Sixty-eight autistic adults (aged 19-80 years) participated in the first study (T1); 49 participants from T1 took part in a follow-up at T2 (mean retest interval 2.4 years). Standardised self-report measures of autistic traits, mental health, and QoL were completed at both time points.
Results: Over two-thirds (71%) of autistic adult participants experienced at least one co-occurring condition, and over a third (37%) met the criteria for three or more co-occurring conditions. Mental and physical health difficulties were related to autistic traits and difficulties in everyday life and were consistent predictors of poor QoL at T1 and T2.
Conclusion: Mental health difficulties in autism persisted into older age and did not improve over time. These findings have important implications for mental health provision for autistic adults in older age.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.741213 | DOI Listing |
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