What you need to know
Adults with Asperger Syndrome (AS) frequently experience significant life events, particularly regarding unemployment and financial problems. It is important to ensure that they receive appropriate supports, as these changes can be distressing.
What is this research about?
Significant life events (such as changing residences, being harassed, or losing friends) are known to be associated with psychiatric conditions in the general population and in adults with intellectual disabilities. This study looked at how often and what types of significant life events individuals with AS experience.
What did the researchers do?
The researchers surveyed 51 adults with AS from across Ontario (average age was 34 years old). Participants were recruited from AS support agencies and advocacy groups, and from email lists associated with these organizations. Individuals completed an online survey with a checklist of life events they experienced over the last two months. This checklist was based off a questionnaire that has been used in past developmental disability research and included items about changes in roommates, changes in staff/caregivers, and recent trauma/abuse. Individuals also completed a brief scale measuring their distress. All participants had the option of completing their surveys online, by telephone interview, or on paper; most preferred online surveys.
What did the researcher find?
The most frequently reported life events included: unemployment; financial problems; mistreatment; disruptions in interpersonal relations; change in living arrangements; and disruptions of routine at work or school.
Most participants (76.5%) reported that they experienced at least one significant life event during the past two months. Over half (58.8%) had experienced at least two events, and 41.2% had experienced at least three.
The number of life events that participants experienced was associated with their reported levels of distress. Individuals who experienced a greater number of life events also reported higher levels of distress.
How can you use this research?
These results suggest that individuals with AS frequently experience significant life events, particularly with respect to unemployment, financial problems and interpersonal stressors. We need to find ways of helping them deal with these stressful changes.
About the Researchers
Alexander Milovanov, BSc., is a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Waterloo.
Yona Lunsky, Ph.D., C.Psych, clinician scientist, and Melissa Paquette-Smith MA, graduate student, are associated with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto, in Toronto, Ontario
Jonathan Weiss, Ph.D., C.Psych, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at York University in Toronto, Ontario.
CITATION:
Milovanov, A., Paquette-Smith, M., Lunsky, Y., & Weiss, J. A. (2013). Prevalence and impact of significant life events for adults with Asperger syndrome. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 19(2), 50-54.This research summary was written by Ami Tint. This research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP a102677). Dr. Weiss is supported by the Chair in ASD Treatment and Care Research (Canadian Institutes of Health Research RN162466-284208 in partnership with Autism Speaks Canada, the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance, Health Canada, Kids Brain Health Network (formerly NeuroDevNet) and the Sinneave Family Foundation.
This research summary, along with other summaries, can be found at asdmentalhealth.ca/research-summariesReproduced with the permission of Dr. Jonathan Weiss (York University). This research summary was developed with funding from the Chair in ASD Treatment and Care Research. The Chair was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in partnership with Autism Speaks Canada, the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance, Health Canada, Kids Brain Health Network (formerly NeuroDevNet) and the Sinneave Family Foundation. This information appeared originally in the Autism Mental Health Blog (https://asdmentalhealth.blog.yorku.ca).
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
Adults with Asperger Syndrome (AS) frequently experience significant life events, particularly regarding unemployment and financial problems. It is important to ensure that they receive appropriate supports, as these changes can be distressing.
What is this research about?
Significant life events (such as changing residences, being harassed, or losing friends) are known to be associated with psychiatric conditions in the general population and in adults with intellectual disabilities. This study looked at how often and what types of significant life events individuals with AS experience.
What did the researchers do?
The researchers surveyed 51 adults with AS from across Ontario (average age was 34 years old). Participants were recruited from AS support agencies and advocacy groups, and from email lists associated with these organizations. Individuals completed an online survey with a checklist of life events they experienced over the last two months. This checklist was based off a questionnaire that has been used in past developmental disability research and included items about changes in roommates, changes in staff/caregivers, and recent trauma/abuse. Individuals also completed a brief scale measuring their distress. All participants had the option of completing their surveys online, by telephone interview, or on paper; most preferred online surveys.
What did the researcher find?
The most frequently reported life events included: unemployment; financial problems; mistreatment; disruptions in interpersonal relations; change in living arrangements; and disruptions of routine at work or school.
Most participants (76.5%) reported that they experienced at least one significant life event during the past two months. Over half (58.8%) had experienced at least two events, and 41.2% had experienced at least three.
The number of life events that participants experienced was associated with their reported levels of distress. Individuals who experienced a greater number of life events also reported higher levels of distress.
How can you use this research?
These results suggest that individuals with AS frequently experience significant life events, particularly with respect to unemployment, financial problems and interpersonal stressors. We need to find ways of helping them deal with these stressful changes.
About the Researchers
Alexander Milovanov, BSc., is a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Waterloo.
Yona Lunsky, Ph.D., C.Psych, clinician scientist, and Melissa Paquette-Smith MA, graduate student, are associated with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto, in Toronto, Ontario
Jonathan Weiss, Ph.D., C.Psych, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at York University in Toronto, Ontario.
CITATION:
Milovanov, A., Paquette-Smith, M., Lunsky, Y., & Weiss, J. A. (2013). Prevalence and impact of significant life events for adults with Asperger syndrome. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 19(2), 50-54.This research summary was written by Ami Tint. This research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP a102677). Dr. Weiss is supported by the Chair in ASD Treatment and Care Research (Canadian Institutes of Health Research RN162466-284208 in partnership with Autism Speaks Canada, the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance, Health Canada, Kids Brain Health Network (formerly NeuroDevNet) and the Sinneave Family Foundation.
This research summary, along with other summaries, can be found at asdmentalhealth.ca/research-summariesReproduced with the permission of Dr. Jonathan Weiss (York University). This research summary was developed with funding from the Chair in ASD Treatment and Care Research. The Chair was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in partnership with Autism Speaks Canada, the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance, Health Canada, Kids Brain Health Network (formerly NeuroDevNet) and the Sinneave Family Foundation. This information appeared originally in the Autism Mental Health Blog (https://asdmentalhealth.blog.yorku.ca).
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
Load more reviews
You've already submitted a review for this item
Comment by
from
Rating
()