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Living arrangements and community participation among autistic adults: Exploring the possible influences of living alone or with others
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Living arrangements and community participation among autistic adults: Exploring the possible influences of living alone or with others

Wei Song, Mark S. Salzer, Stacy L. Nonnemacher, Kaitlin Koffer Miller and Lindsay L. Shea
Research in developmental disabilities, v 124, 104213
May 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104213
PMID: 35290949
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel

Abstract

Adults Autism spectrum disorders Community participation Living arrangements
With the increasing prevalence of autistic individuals, it is greatly needed to examine the factors impacting their community participation experiences. Where autistic adults live and how that may be related to their participation and quality of life is one environmental factor that has received little attention. This study explored the association between living arrangements in the community and community participation for autistic adults. This study used data from a statewide survey of autistic adults (N = 744) to investigate the relationship between living arrangements (live alone with or without support, live with roommate/spouse, or live with family) and the amount, breadth, and sufficiency of community participation. After controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors known to be associated with community participation, autistic adults living with family members participated less frequently in community activities over 30 days than those living with a roommate/spouse. However, they experienced similar levels of sufficiency with their participation. Autistic adults living alone with support reported the lowest levels of sufficiency with their participation, although the amount and breadth of their participation were no different from other adults. These findings have several implications for providing support to enable autistic adults to participate in the areas that are important to them and to the extent they desire. Future research is needed to gain a better understanding of how interests and expectations for participation may be influenced by living situations. •This study examined how living arrangements were related to community participation in a large sample of autistic adults.•Autistic adults living with a roommate or spouse participated more than those living with family members.•Those who lived alone with support were less satisfied with their participation than adults in other living situation.•Our results offer directions for how service providers might support autistic adults based on where they live.

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17 Record Views
13 citations in Web of Science
12 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Education, Special
Rehabilitation
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