Thesis
Social support, social networking and life satisfaction among college students with autistic related impairments
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2016
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-6988
Abstract
Students with broad autism phenotype (BAP) or with sub-clinical autistic traits may not be receiving the social support and services they need to be successful and satisfied with life during and after college. The goal of this research is to investigate the relationships between autistic related impairments in social communication, social networking, social supports, and overall satisfaction among college students. A sample of college students (N=334; mean age = 19.8 years) from 19 colleges and universities in the US completed a one-hour online survey including the Student Social Network Assessment Questionnaire (SSNAQ) and the Social Reciprocity Scale-2 (SRS-2), a highly validated measure of autistic related impairments in social communication. Results indicate a significant negative relationship between functional social support and autistic traits among college students. Results also suggest that remote, digital means of social contact is not supportive enough to yield satisfaction with college life for students. Findings also suggest that understanding the social and communicative needs of students with subclinical autistic traits may inform development and provision of appropriate and effective services for this population, thus enabling students to have successful lives during and beyond college. Limitations of these findings and future direction of research are discussed.
Metrics
45 File views/ downloads
69 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Social support, social networking and life satisfaction among college students with autistic related impairments
- Creators
- Nicole Roshannon - DU
- Contributors
- Felicia Hurewitz (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 6988; 991014632245904721