Employment & Workplace Communication
The Lived Experience of Autistic Adults in Employment
Systematic Review (2024)
https://worktogethernc.com/wp-content/uploads/thorpe-et-al-2024-the-lived-experience-of-autistic-adults-in-employment-a-systematic-search-and-synthesis-1.pdf
Synthesizes research on autistic workers’ employment experiences, highlighting workplace communication challenges and the disabling nature of neurotypical work environments
Autism and Employment Challenges: The Double Empathy Problem
PMC (June 2024)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11317796/
Compares Theory of Mind versus Double Empathy explanations for autistic social functioning challenges in non-autistic workplaces, finding mutual misunderstandings rather than autistic impairments
Inclusive Communication Model Supporting the Employment Cycle of Individuals with Autism
PMC (2021)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8125785/
Proposes tailored communication strategies around recruitment, selection, onboarding, and job retention to address communication deficits that cause stress for autistic adults
Autism and neurodiversity in the workplace: A scoping review
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation (2024)
https://worksupport.com/research/documents/pdf/jvr_2024_601_jvr601jvr230060_jvr60jvr230060.pdf
Synthesizes research on autism employment from employer perspectives, examining attitudes, frameworks, interventions, and workplace environmental factors
Mental Health
Anxiety and depression in adults with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Psychological Medicine (2019)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30178724/
Comprehensive meta-analysis finding autistic adults are at disproportionate risk for anxiety and depression, which are the most prominent mental health comorbidities
The impact of depressive and anxious symptoms on quality of life in adults on the autism spectrum
Autism Research (June 2024)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38783834/
Studies German autistic adults ages 18-70, confirming lower quality of life and examining how depression and anxiety symptoms reduce quality of life
Longitudinal Associations Between Autistic Traits, Self-compassion, Anxiety and Depression
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (December 2024)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37874475/
Longitudinal study finding self-compassion mediates relationships between autistic traits and mental health, suggesting it could be a therapeutic target
Experiences of Autism Acceptance and Mental Health in Autistic Adults
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2017)
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-017-3342-7
Examines how autism acceptance from others and personal acceptance significantly predict depression and stress in autistic adults, highlighting the importance of acceptance for mental health
Psychosocial Treatments Targeting Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents and Adults
Current Psychiatry Reports (2018)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6421847/
Reviews psychosocial interventions for anxiety and depression in autistic adolescents and adults, finding considerable evidence for cognitive-behavioral therapy efficacy
Mental health in autistic adults: A rapid review
PMC (2023)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10343158/
Identifies prevalence of ADHD, depression, and anxiety as most common psychiatric diagnoses in autistic adults, with rates varying widely based on diagnosis methods