Leisure participation and satisfaction in autistic adults and neurotypical adults.
Autistic adults enjoy free time less than neurotypical peers, and their own mood and age are the levers you can adjust.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Stacey et al. (2019) asked autistic and neurotypical adults how happy they feel about free-time activities.
They used a short survey called the Leisure Satisfaction Scale.
The team also checked age and mood to see what shapes leisure joy.
What they found
Autistic adults scored lower on leisure happiness than neurotypical peers.
Younger autistic adults and those with fewer depression signs felt better about their free time.
Age and mood did not matter for the neurotypical group.
How this fits with other research
Yarar et al. (2022) extends this picture: older autistic adults report better social quality of life than younger ones, matching the age trend seen here.
Pakenham et al. (2004) is a predecessor that first showed low recreation participation in autistic teens and adults; Taylor-Leigh confirms the fun gap persists and adds that mood makes it worse.
Grove et al. (2018) offers a bright side: autistic adults who pursue special interests feel higher wellbeing, hinting that tailored hobbies might lift the low leisure satisfaction found here.
Why it matters
If you run social or leisure programs for autistic adults, start with a quick depression screen.
Plan activities that fit special interests and invite older clients to mentor younger ones.
Small mood and age tweaks can turn free time from frustrating into fun.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Leisure participation is important for well-being and has been attributed to improved quality of life for autistic individuals. Rigorous studies exploring the leisure participation of autistic adults are sparse. This study aimed to compare the type of leisure activity and frequency of participation between autistic adults and neurotypical adults as well as compare and identify factors associated with their leisure satisfaction. Data for 145 autistic and 104 neurotypical adults were obtained from time point one of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Adults with Autism. The primary outcome measure used was the Leisure Satisfaction Scale. Autistic adults were less satisfied with their leisure overall (mean = 3.29, standard deviation = 0.75) compared with neurotypical adults (mean = 3.69, standard deviation = 0.55). Multiple linear regression revealed being younger and reporting less depressive symptoms were significantly associated with higher leisure satisfaction in autistic but not neurotypical adults. Engagement in solitary leisure activities was comparable across participants, but socialising in person was predominated by neurotypical adults. Leisure activity preferences of autistic adults' and the frequency of their leisure participation are important factors for clinicians to understand when working with this population and tailoring well-being interventions.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2019 · doi:10.1177/1362361318791275