Linking Sensory Integration and Processing With Mental Health in Autism: A Retrospective Review of Survey Data

Importance: Although a central tenet of occupational therapy practice, evidence-based practice is at times overrepresented by research and can overlook the contributions of clinical expertise, the lived experience, and context. This survey affords the occupational therapy practitioner the opportunity to understand sensory integration and processing (SI/P) as experienced by autistic adults. Objective: To explore the following research question through a retrospective analysis of an internet-based survey: What is the relationship between the SI/P differences and mental health concerns reported by autistic adults? Design: Nonexperimental; retrospective analysis of data collected from September 2018 through June 2019. The analysis team joined the project after the survey had been launched. Setting: The Grand Sensory Survey (GSS) was available internationally through the websites and social media accounts of the Autistic Empire and STAR Institute for Sensory Processing. Participants: The sample included 440 total responses. Excluding responses from participants ages <= 18 yr (n = 24), 416 responses were included: n = 189 identified as autistic, n = 147 identified as nonautistic, and n = 80 did not provide a response to this query. Outcomes and Measures: The GSS included questions about demographics, mental health, and sensory experiences. Results: Both SI/P disruptions and sensory sensitivity predicted anxiety and depression (p < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: Differences in SI/P are significant factors in mental health for autistic adults.

Automated summary

This survey explores the relationship between sensory integration and processing differences and mental health concerns reported by autistic adults through a retrospective analysis of internet-based survey data. The results show that both SI/P disruptions and sensory sensitivity are significant predictors of anxiety and depression. This highlights the importance of sensory integration and processing for the mental health of autistic adults.