title: Longitudinal Predictors of Outcomes for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Systematic Review.
abstract: To generate an evidence-based understanding of longitudinal predictors of social outcomes (i.e., employment, social relationships/participation, independent living) of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we conducted a systematic literature review of publications since 2000. Twelve publications deriving from eight study samples fit inclusion/exclusion criteria for the review. In these publications, statistically significant predictors of social outcomes fell into five categories: (a) personal characteristics, (b) individual functioning, (c) family context, (d) services, and (e) other factors (i.e., peer influence, health status). However, only two studies demonstrated high methodological quality, and only one category of predictors-individual functioning-was identified across multiple study samples. To inform practices for youth with ASD, there remains a need for high-quality outcome research related to adults with ASD to better understand predictors, especially related to environmental factors such as related to the family and services received.
authors: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA avkirby@gmail.com.
authors: Anne V
authors: AV
authors: Kirby
authors: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Grace T
authors: GT
authors: Baranek
authors: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Leslie
authors: L
authors: Fox
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; D004651:Employment; D005190:Family; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010379:Peer Group; D012947:Social Work
keywords: autism; functional outcomes; systematic review