Why is it Difficult For Autistic Individuals to Transition to Adulthood?

Principal investigator: Dr Mark Taylor

Location: Sweden

Funding Period: 2021-2023

The transition into adulthood is a challenging time, especially as 75% of mental illness develop before the age of 18. For autistic individuals this stage of life presents even greater challenges which increases the likelihood of mental ill-health.

The project

Mental health conditions are prevalent among autistic individuals. Many of these conditions develop as adolescents begin to transition into adulthood, however it is largely unknown why this is the case. Whilst there are many contributing factors, we know very little about whether the challenges autistic people face in the earlier part of adulthood have a longer-term effect on what happens to them as adults.

This project aims to examine why transitioning to adulthood is so difficult for autistic individuals, and what the longer-term consequences of these difficulties might be.

The process

Through study of vast data on genetics and family history, this research will define genetic factors linked with autism using polygenic scores and test their association with educational, occupational and health challenges from autistic individuals aged 18-24.

Additionally this study will examine the different challenges faced by young women with autism compared to young men.

This is an interdisciplinary approach uniting contemporary methods and concepts from epidemiology, behavioural genetics and lifespan psychology.

Furthermore, this project adopts an approach known as neurodiversity meaning it will aim to identify the ways in which wider society could adapt to include autistic people rather than trying to cure autism or put pressure on autistic individuals to change their behaviour. This project aims to contribute to this movement by better understanding the additional challenges that autistic individuals face, so that they be less stigmatised and more included in society.

The outcome

Mark and his team found that Autistic people are at an increased risk of severe mental health conditions as young adults and beyond, which may sometimes lead to treatment in a mental health hospital. Given the potential negative impacts this may have for autistic people, it is vital to ensure that autistic people have support in place for their mental health as they reach adulthood, especially as autistic people suddenly lose access to mental health supports at age 18.

It was also found that Autistic women have a particularly high risk of developing mental health conditions. Many of these may be diagnosed prior to being diagnosed with autism. It is therefore very important to ensure that autistic women receive their autism diagnosis in a timely manner, and that they are supported with their mental health.

The researchers also gained an understanding of the factors that may cause mental health problems in autistic people. Some of these may be factors that increase the risk of mental illness in everyone, such as having a family history of mental illness and having physical illnesses. Others might be more specific to being autistic, such as being diagnosed late with autism and having an intellectual disability in addition to autism.

Papers published:

Martini, Taylor et al, 2022: Sex Differences in Mental Health Problems and Psychiatric Hospitalization in Autistic Young Adults. Jama Psychiatry

Dr Mark Taylor

Dr Taylor of the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and previously of UCL and Birkbeck University.