Living arrangements and satisfaction of current arrangement among autistic adults reported by autistic individuals or their caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Living arrangements is an essential component of the social environments for autistic adults. The need to understanding the status and experience of living arrangements has been highlighted. AIM: This study examined living arrangements and satisfaction with current arrangements of autistic adults reported by autistic adults or caregivers of autistic adults. METHODS: This study used data from a statewide survey of autistic adults or caregivers. RESULTS: Older autistic adults and those employed and had higher financial resources were more likely to live alone or with a roommate or spouse than to live with family or in a supervised setting. Correlates of greater satisfaction included being young, either men or women (vs. non-binary adults), public insurance, fewer service needs, no or one mental health diagnosis (vs. two or more), no psychiatric emergency room or hospitalisation history, and living with a roommate or spouse (vs. living with family). CONCLUSION: This cross-sectional study adds to the literature on the status of living arrangements and satisfaction with living arrangements among autistic adults. Future research is needed to investigate contributing factors to the satisfaction of living arrangements and quality of life among autistic adults.

Living arrangements and community participation among autistic adults: Exploring the possible influences of living alone or with others.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing prevalence of autistic individuals, it is greatly needed to examine the factors impacting their community participation experiences. Where autistic adults live and how that may be related to their participation and quality of life is one environmental factor that has received little attention. AIMS: This study explored the association between living arrangements in the community and community participation for autistic adults. METHOD: This study used data from a statewide survey of autistic adults (N = 744) to investigate the relationship between living arrangements (live alone with or without support, live with roommate/spouse, or live with family) and the amount, breadth, and sufficiency of community participation. RESULTS: After controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors known to be associated with community participation, autistic adults living with family members participated less frequently in community activities over 30 days than those living with a roommate/spouse. However, they experienced similar levels of sufficiency with their participation. Autistic adults living alone with support reported the lowest levels of sufficiency with their participation, although the amount and breadth of their participation were no different from other adults. CONCLUSION: These findings have several implications for providing support to enable autistic adults to participate in the areas that are important to them and to the extent they desire. Future research is needed to gain a better understanding of how interests and expectations for participation may be influenced by living situations.

Self-reported COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and hesitancy among autistic adults.

Identifying factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among vulnerable groups, including autistic individuals, can increase vaccination rates and support public health. The purpose of this study was to determine differences among autistic adults who reported COVID-19 vaccination acceptance from those who did not. In this study we describe COVID-19 vaccination status and self-reported preferences among autistic adults and identify related factors. Vaccine accepters were more likely to report increased loneliness during COVID-19, lived in more populous counties (p = 0.02), and lived in counties won by President Biden in the 2020 US presidential election (p < 0.001). Positive correlations were found between desire to protect others, concern about contracting COVID-19, and trusting vaccine safety (p < 0.001). Concern about vaccine safety was common among the vaccine hesitant, while lack of concern about COVID-19 overall was not. Identifying health promotion strategies based on self-reported, lived experiences about COVID-19 among vulnerable groups is key for public health impact.