Autism and sexual and gender minority identity in college students: Examination of self-reported rates, functional outcomes, and treatment engagement.
Autistic college students who are also sexual or gender minorities report the worst mental-health outcomes of any group on campus.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Soto et al. (2024) sent an online survey to autistic college students. They asked about sexual and gender identity, stress, grades, and mental-health history.
The team compared three groups: autistic students who are sexual or gender minorities, autistic students who are not, and non-autistic students.
What they found
Students who were both autistic and sexual/gender minorities reported the highest stress, the worst grades, and the most mental-health problems.
They also had the highest rate of suicidal thoughts. The survey showed this group carries the heaviest load on campus.
How this fits with other research
Jackson et al. (2025) found that about two-thirds of autistic college students report anxiety and half report depression. Soto et al. (2024) extend those numbers by showing the risk is even higher when students are also LGBTQ+.
Gundeslioglu et al. (2025) saw the same jump in suicidality among autistic UK students, so the danger is not just an American issue.
Segers et al. (2014) warned that minority status and victimization raise suicide risk in autism. The new data confirm that sexual and gender minority identity is one such key risk.
Bertschy et al. (2020) already heard from LGBTQ+ autistic high-schoolers that they feel different. Soto et al. (2024) show these feelings follow them to college and turn into measurable mental-health harm.
Why it matters
If you work with autistic students, add sexual and gender identity to your risk checklist. One quick question can flag the highest-risk group. Link these students to LGBTQ+-affirming counseling and peer groups. Small steps can lighten the heaviest load on campus.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Autistic individuals and those who identify with a sexual and/or gender minority are both at risk for various mental health concerns and related impairments. However, the connection between autism and sexual and/or gender minorities and mental health and functional outcomes is not clear. Here, we provide evidence of these connections by analyzing data from a large nationally representative dataset from the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment III. We found that autistic college students who identify with both sexual and gender minorities reported the highest rates of stress, academic, and mental health concerns including suicidality when compared with autistic college students with or without a sexual and/or gender minority. In addition, college students with at least two identities, such as autism and a sexual minority identity or both a sexual and gender minority identity, reported the next highest rates of concern. These findings affirm the need for mental healthcare providers to consider the intersections of a sexual and gender minority identities in non-autistic and, especially, in autistic college students to develop and provide better support and resources.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2024 · doi:10.1177/13623613241236228