title: Predictors for work participation in individuals with an Autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research shows that only about 25% of people with autism are employed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review on factors facilitating or hindering work participation of people with autism in longitudinal studies. An extensive search in biomedical and psychological databases yielded 204 articles and 18 satisfied all inclusion criteria. We assessed the methodological quality of included studies using an established criteria list.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen factors were identified and categorized as disease-related factors, personal factors or external factors. Limited cognitive ability was the only significant predictor consistently found for work outcome. Functional independence and institutionalization were both reported by one study to be significantly related to work outcome. Inconsistent findings or non significant findings were reported for the other fourteen factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings emphasize the need for more high quality cohort studies focussing on work participation as the main outcome among people with Autism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Building 3217, Room 621, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD, Groningen, The Netherlands. a.holwerda@med.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holwerda
authors.forename: Jac J L
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van der Klink
authors.forename: Johan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Groothoff
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brouwer
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D014937:Work