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Thesis
Heterogeneity in autism symptomatology in adults with Down syndrome: associations with employment outcomes
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011010
Abstract
As vocational status is a critical social determinant of health, closely linked to short and long-term social, emotional, and physical wellbeing, it is imperative that public health efforts prioritize maximizing employment outcomes for all populations. Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are one population susceptible to poor vocational outcomes, facing challenges in securing and sustaining meaningful, enriching employment. However, little is known about how phenotypic variability in different cognitive or behavioral traits, such as autism symptomatology, relates to individual differences in employment outcomes. Thus, the current study aimed to address this gap by investigating how variability in autism symptomatology (both overall symptomatology and impairments in social interaction/communication and the presence of repetitive behaviors and interests considered separately) relate to different vocational outcomes, including the degree of engagement in vocational activities as well as the complexity of these activities. Participants included 82 young adults with DS. Parents/caregivers completed measures of post-secondary activities and a validated measure of autism symptomatology. Results of the study revealed that greater overall autism symptomatology was associated with decreased vocational independence, fewer hours of community employment, and lower levels of occupational complexity. When core symptom domains were examined separately, difficulties in social communication and interaction were significantly associated with reduced vocational independence, fewer hours of community employment, and lower occupational complexity. In contrast, no significant associations were found between restricted interests and repetitive behaviors and any of the vocational outcomes assessed. These findings suggest that the presence of co-occurring autism symptomatology, particularly social communication and interaction challenges, is an important area of future research for young adults with DS to inform post-secondary interventions.
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Details
- Title
- Heterogeneity in autism symptomatology in adults with Down syndrome
- Creators
- Jessica Rose McNulty
- Contributors
- Nancy Raitano Lee (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- vii, ii, i, 63 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022059037404721