Factors associated with positive mental health in young adults with a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Strong friendships and solid daily living skills are the top levers for boosting well-being in young adult clients with ASD or ADHD.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team asked 171 young adults with autism or ADHD to fill out a survey.
They measured positive mental health with a short well-being scale.
Then they looked at which daily-life factors linked to higher scores.
What they found
Three things stood out: good social ties, strong daily living skills, and feeling healthy.
Each factor lifted well-being on its own.
Yet the average score was still low, showing plenty of room to grow.
How this fits with other research
Myers et al. (2018) saw the same pattern in children: stronger executive skills meant better daily living and fewer sad moods.
The new study widens the lens to young adults and swaps "executive skills" for the real-world label "functional capacity."
Fullana et al. (2007) found that adults with intellectual disability who had more social support and fewer negative thoughts felt less depressed.
Appelqvist-Schmidlechner et al. (2020) echo this in ASD/ADHD, showing social ties and self-rated health matter for positive mental health, not just for avoiding depression.
Together, the papers say: build social and practical skills early and keep them going into adulthood.
Why it matters
You already teach daily living and social skills. This study tells you these targets do double duty—they also guard mental health. Track social connections and self-rated health as outcome measures, not just side notes.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Positive dimension of mental health has gained less attention in previous research on individuals with neurodevelopmenal disorders. However, knowledge on factors associated with mental well-being is crucial for planning effective interventions for this target group. AIMS: The aim of the study was to investigate the determinants of positive mental health among young adults with neurodevelopmental disorders. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The study sample consisted of 171 young adults (18-35 years, mean age 25 years, SD 4.35) with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or ADHD/ADD. The data were collected with questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean score of SWEMWBS was 20.98 (n = 168, ranging 14.75-35.00, SD = 3.55). Provisions of social relationships, functional capacity and self-rated state of health associated independently with positive mental health. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The level of positive mental health of study participants was relatively low compared with previous studies in other clinical settings or general populations. Promotion of social competence and social relationship should be included in rehabilitation programmes targeted at individuals with neurodevelopmental disorder. This may be beneficial in reaching also other goals set for the rehabilitation, such as increasing capacity to work or study.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2020 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103780