Health Care Transition Services and Adaptive and Social-Emotional Functioning of Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Songtian et al. (2021) asked a simple question. Do health-care transition services help youth with autism feel and function better?

They looked at young adults with autism. The team counted how many transition services each person used. Then they measured social-emotional health.

Kids who got two or more services did better. The biggest boost came from learning to manage their own health needs.

More services meant better social-emotional scores. The link stayed strong even after controlling for other factors.

Özmeral Erarkadaş et al. (2026) extends the story. They found that medical health and mid-range IQ predict daily living skills in high-support adults. Together, the papers show that health matters across the lifespan.

García-Villamisar et al. (2017) offers a practical tool. Their 40-week recreation program with brain games improved executive function and social skills in adults. This gives you a ready-made way to build the self-management skills Songtian calls for.

Donoso et al. (2024) adds a warning. Higher adaptive skills cut both anxiety and behavior problems. If transition services boost adaptive skills, you may get a double win: better social-emotional health and fewer mental-health symptoms.

You can act on this today. Check how many transition services your clients receive. If they have fewer than two, add a self-management goal. Teach them to refill meds, schedule appointments, or track symptoms. Pair the goal with a peer group or recreation program like D et al. used. More services now mean better social-emotional health later.