The health of college students on the autism spectrum as compared to their neurotypical peers.
Autistic college students face serious health disparities across physical and mental health domains, requiring targeted campus health services.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers asked 75 autistic college students and 75 neurotypical classmates about their health. They used standard surveys to measure physical health, mental health, sleep, and substance use.
The survey took 15 minutes. Students answered questions about doctor visits, pain, depression, anxiety, sleep hours, and drinking habits.
What they found
Autistic students scored worse on almost every health measure. They reported more depression, more anxiety, and more physical health problems.
Surprisingly, autistic students slept better and drank less alcohol than their peers. Despite this, their overall health picture was much worse.
How this fits with other research
Luelmo et al. (2021) found similar health problems in autistic adults of all ages. Their work shows these health gaps don't disappear after college.
Healy et al. (2022) discovered why physical health suffers - autistic young adults face motivation, boredom, and transportation barriers to exercise. This explains the poor fitness scores D et al. found.
Pan (2014) first documented these fitness gaps in teenagers. The new study proves these problems continue into college years, making campus fitness programs crucial.
Wilson et al. (2023) showed that service barriers increase with later autism diagnosis. Since many autistic students get diagnosed late, they likely face extra barriers to campus health services.
Why it matters
Campus health centers need autism-specific screening tools. Ask about sensory issues in exam rooms, communication preferences for appointment booking, and social anxiety around group fitness classes. Simple fixes like quiet waiting areas or written instructions can help autistic students access the care they need. Track your autistic clients' service use - if they're not showing up, these health disparities will worsen.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Studies have shown that children and older adults on the autism spectrum experience more physical and mental health problems than their neurotypical peers. Less is known about the physical and mental health of college students on the spectrum. Studying college students is important because young adults on the spectrum are enrolling in college at increasing rates and because health problems can be a barrier to succeeding in college. We collected data from 2820 students at 14 colleges and universities using an online survey, some of whom had registered for accommodations based on autism and others of whom had not. We used the data to compare the physical and mental health of students on the spectrum to their neurotypical peers. Because students with autism often report other disabilities that also affect health, we accounted for whether they experienced a learning disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sensory impairment, mobility impairment, mental health disorder, or any other disabilities. We assessed health using self-reports of how healthy they were physically and mentally, and reports of depressive symptoms, symptoms of anxiety, sleep deprivation, and binge drinking. We found that students with autism reported poorer physical and mental health, more depressive symptoms, and more symptoms of anxiety even after taking into account other disabilities they may have experienced. They were also less likely to report sleep deprivation and binge drinking. Our results argue for developing specialized services to address the physical and mental health challenges of college students on the spectrum.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2021 · doi:10.1177/1362361320926070