Brief Report: The Influence of Autism Severity and Depression on Self-Determination Among Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Self-determination (SD) is linked to autonomy and better adult outcomes. Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often less independent than cognitively matched peers. Given the frequency with which depression co-occurs in ASD and the established association between depression and SD, we sought to evaluate the influence of both ASD severity and depression on SD among cognitively able emerging adults with ASD. Emerging adults (n = 59) with ASD completed measures of SD, ASD severity, and depression. Both ASD severity and depression were moderately correlated with SD (r = - 0.473; - 0.423, respectively) and with each other (r = 0.625). After controlling for ASD severity, depression did not significantly predict SD. Strengthening SD should be considered in programming to promote independence.

Automated summary

The study found that both ASD severity and depression have an impact on self-determination among cognitively able emerging adults with ASD, with moderate correlations between them. After controlling for ASD severity, depression did not significantly predict self-determination. Strengthening self-determination should be considered in programming to promote independence.