College students on the autism spectrum: Prevalence and associated problems
Abstract
As more young people are identified with autism spectrum diagnoses without co-occurring intellectual disability (i.e. high-functioning autism spectrum disorder; HFASD), it is imperative that we begin to study the needs of this population. We sought to gain a preliminary estimate of the scope of the problem and to examine psychiatric risks associated HFASD symptoms in university students. In a large sample (n = 667), we examined prevalence of ASD in students at a single university both diagnostically and dimensionally, and surveyed students on other behavioral and psychiatric problems. Dependent upon the ascertainment method, between .7 per cent and 1.9 per cent of college students could meet criteria for HFASD. Of special interest, none of the students who were found to meet diagnostic criteria (n = 5) formally for HFASD in this study had been previously diagnosed. From a dimensional perspective, those students scoring above the clinical threshold for symptoms of autism (n = 13) self-reported more problems with social anxiety than a matched comparison group of students with lower autism severity scores. In addition, symptoms of HFASD were significantly correlated with symptoms of social anxiety, as well as depression and aggression. Findings demonstrate the importance of screening for autism-related impairment among university students.
Get full access to this article
View all access and purchase options for this article.
References
American Psychiatric Association (2010) DSM-5: The Future of Psychiatric Diagnosis. Available at http://www.dsm5.org/Pages/Default.aspx
Austin E.J. (2005) ‘Personality Correlates of the Broader Autism Phenotype as Assessed by the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)’, Personality and Individual Differences 38: 451–460.
Baron-Cohen S., Wheelwright S., Robinson J., Woodbury-Smith M. (2005) ‘The Adult Asperger Assessment (AAA): A Diagnostic Method’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 35(6): 807–819. DOI 10.1007/s10803-005-0026-5
Baron-Cohen S., Wheelwright S., Skinner R., Martin J., Clubley E. (2001) ‘The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger Syndrome/High-Functioning Autism, Males and Females, Scientists and Mathematicians’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 31(1): 5–17.
Barnhill G., Hagiwara T., Myles B.S., Simpson R. (2000) ‘Asperger Syndrome: A Study of the Cognitive Profiles of 37 Children and Adolescents’, Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities 15(3): 146–153.
Bellini S. (2004) ‘Social Skill Deficits and Anxiety in High-Functioning Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders’, Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities 19(2): 78–86.
Bishop D., Mayberry M., Maley A. (2004) ‘Using Self-Report to Identify the Broad Phenotype in Parents of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: A Study Using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient’, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 45(8): 1431–1436.
Bolte S., Westerwald E., Holtmann M., Freitag C., Poustka F. (2010) ‘Autistic Traits and Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Clinical Validity of Two Measures Presuming a Continuum of Social and Communication Skills’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, advance online publication.
Buss A.H., Perry M. (1992) ‘The Aggression Questionnaire’, Personality Processes and Individual Differences 63(3): 452–459.
Campbell D.T., Fiske D.W. (1959) ‘Convergent and Discriminant Validation by the Multitrait-Multimethod Matrix’, Psychological Bulletin 56(2): 81–105.
Cederlund M., Hagberg B., Billstedt E., Gillberg I.C., Gillberg C. (2008) ‘Asperger Syndrome and Autism: A Comparative Longitudinal Follow-Up Study More than 5 Years after Original Diagnosis’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38: 72–85.
Cederlund M., Hagberg B., Gillberg C. (2010) ‘Asperger Syndrome in Adolescent and Young Adult Males. Interview, Self- and Parent Assessment of Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Problems’, Research in Developmental Disabilities 31: 287–298.
Cimera R.E., Cowan R.J. (2009) ‘The Costs of Services and Employment Outcomes Achieved by Adults with Autism in the US’, Autism 13(3): 285–302.
Constantino J.N. (in press) Social Responsiveness Scale–Adult Self-Report, Brief Format. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
Constantino J.N., Gruber C.P. (2005) Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
Croen L.A., Grether J.K., Hoogstrate J., Selvin S. (2002) ‘The Changing Prevalence of Autism in California’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 32: 207–215.
Farley M.A., McMahon W.M., Fombonne E., Jenson W.R., Miller J., et al. (2009) ‘Twenty-Year Outcome for Individuals with Autism and Average or Near-Average Cognitive Abilities’, Autism Research 2: 109–118.
Glennon T.J. (2001) ‘The Stress of the University Experience for Students with Asperger Syndrome’, Work 17: 183–190.
Hayashi M., Kato M., Igarashi K., Kashima H. (2008) ‘Superior Fluid Intelligence in Children with Asperger’s Disorder’, Brain and Cognition 66: 306–310.
Hoekstra R.A., Bartels M., Cath D.C., Boomsma D.I. (2008) ‘Factor Structure, Reliability and Criterion Validity of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): A Study in Dutch Population and Patient Groups’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38: 1555–1566. DOI 10.1007/s10803-008-0538-x
Hofvander B., Delorme R., Chaste P., Nyden A., Wentz E., et al. (2009) ‘Psychiatric and Psychosocial Problems in Adults With Normal-Intelligence Autism Spectrum Disorders’, BMC Psychiatry 9(35): 1–9.
Honda H., Shimizu Y., Imai M., Nitto Y. (2005) ‘Cumulative Incidence of childhood Autism: A Total Population Study of Better Accuracy and Precision’, Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 47: 10–18.
Howlin P., Goode J., Hutton J., Rutter M. (2004) ‘Adult Outcome for Children with Autism’, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 45: 212–229.
Hurley R.S.E., Losh M., Parlier M., Reznick J.S., Piven J. (2007) ‘The Broad Autism Phenotype’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 37: 1679–1690.
Jobe L., White S.W. (2007) ‘Loneliness, Social Relationships, and a Broader Autism Phenotype in College Students’, Personality and Individual Differences 42: 1479–1489.
Joshi G., Petty C., Wozniak J., Henin A., Fried R., Galdo M., et al. (2010) ‘The Heavy Burden of Psychiatric Comorbidity in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A large Comparative Study of a Psychiatrically Referred Population’, Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, advance online publication.
Kanne S.M., Christ S.E., Reiersen A.M. (2009) ‘Psychiatric Symptoms and psychosocial Difficulties in Young Adults with Autistic Traits’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 39: 827–833.
Kroenke K., Spitzer R.L., Williams J.B.W. (2001) ‘The PHQ-9: Validity of a Brief Depression Severity Measure’, Journal of General Internal Medicine 16: 606–613.
Kuusikko S., Pollock-Wurman R., Jussila K., Carter A.S., Mattila M., et al. (2008) ‘Social Anxiety in High-Functioning Children and Adolescents with Autism and Asperger Syndrome’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38: 1697–1709.
Lopata C., Toomey J.A., Fox D.D., Volker M.A., Chow S.Y., et al. (2010) ‘Anxiety and Depression in Children with HFASDs: Symptom Levels and Source Differences’, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, advance online publication.
Lord C., Rutter M., DiLavore P.C., Risi S. (2002) Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
Mayes S.D., Calhoun S.L. (2008) ‘WISC-IV and WIAT-II Profiles in Children with High-Functioning Autism’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38: 428–439.
Newman S.S., Ghaziuddin M. (2008) ‘Violent Crime in Asperger Syndrome: The Role of Psychiatric Comorbidity’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38: 1848–1852.
Pugliese C., White S.W., Ollendick T., White B.A. (2011) Aggression and Anxiety in Autism. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Reiersen A.M., Constantino J.N., Grimmer M., Martin N.G., Todd R.D. (2008) ‘Evidence for Shared Genetic Influences on Self-Reported ADHD and Autistic Symptoms in Young Adult Australian Twins’, Twin Research and Human Genetics 11(6): 579–585.
Roberson-Nay R., Strong D.R., Nay W.T., Beidel D.C., Turner S.M. (2007) ‘Development of an Abbreviated Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI) Using Item Response Theory: The SPAI-23’, Psychological Assessment 19(1): 133–145.
Sofronoff K., Attwood T., Hinton S., Levin I. (2007) ‘A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Cognitive Behavioural Intervention for Anger Management in Children Diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 37: 1203–1214.
Spitzer R.L., Kroenke K., Williams J.B. (1999) ‘Validation and Utility of a Self-Report Version of PRIME-MD: The PHQ Primary Care Study. Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. Patient Health Questionnaire’, JAMA 282: 1737–1744.
Sterling L., Dawson G., Estes A., Greenson J. (2008) ‘Characteristics Associated with Presence of Depressive Symptoms in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38: 1011–1018.
Stewart M.E., Austin E.J. (2009) ‘The Structure of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): Evidence from a Student Sample in Scotland’, Personality and Individual Differences 47: 224–228.
Turner S.M., Beidel D.C., Dancu C.V. (1996) Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory Manual. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems.
Turner S.M., Beidel D.C., Dancu C.V., Stanley M.A. (1989) ‘An empirically derived Inventory to Measure Social Fears and Anxiety: The Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory’, Psychological Assessment 1: 35–40.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009) ‘Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders-Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, United States, 2006’, MMWR Surveill Summ, 58 (SS-10).
VanBergeijk E., Klin A., Volkmar F. (2008) ‘Supporting More Able Students on the autism Spectrum: College and Beyond’, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38: 1359–1370.
White S.W., Oswald D., Ollendick T., Scahill L. (2009) ‘Anxiety in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders’, Clinical Psychology Review 29(3): 216–229.
White S.W., Schry A.R. (2011) ‘Social Anxiety in Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum’, in Alfano C.A., Beidel D.C. (eds), Social Anxiety Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults: Translating Developmental Science into Practice.
Cite article
Cite article
Cite article
OR
Download to reference manager
If you have citation software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice
Information, rights and permissions
Information
Published In
Article first published online: May 24, 2011
Issue published: November 2011
Keywords
PubMed: 21610191
Authors
Metrics and citations
Metrics
Article usage*
Total views and downloads: 6327
*Article usage tracking started in December 2016
Altmetric
See the impact this article is making through the number of times it’s been read, and the Altmetric Score.
Learn more about the Altmetric Scores
Articles citing this one
Receive email alerts when this article is cited
Web of Science: 174 view articles Opens in new tab
Crossref: 192
- A Scoping Review of Peer Mentoring Programs for Autistic College Stude...
- The Feasibility and the Therapeutic Process Factors of Online vs. Face...
- Uncovering employment outcomes for autistic university graduates in th...
- Simulated Contact and Attitudes Toward Autistic Adults: Effects of Gen...
- Presence and correlates of autistic traits among patients with social ...
- The Impact of an Autistic Character Media Portrayal on Autistic Stereo...
- Initial Validation of the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychologica...
- Meeting the mental health needs of autistic college students: a survey...
- We adapt as needed: Autism services at liberal arts college libraries
- “Walking the Talk” in Special Educator Preparation for Neurodiversity
- The mediating role of psychological flexibility in the association of ...
- Discrimination and Harassment Experiences of Autistic College Students...
- Adaptation of the PEERS for Young Adults Social Skills Curriculum for ...
- Autistic traits predict social avoidance and distress: The chain media...
- Implications of Social Anxiety Symptoms in Adults with Autism Spectrum...
- Assessing the diametrical model of schizotypal and autistic traits in ...
- Barriers and facilitators to supporting Canadian autistic postsecondar...
- Advancing equity in language assessment for learners with disabilities
- Perceived obstacles and s trategies to aca...
- Autistic Traits and College Adjustment
- A scoping review of research trends and future directions for research...
- “I just need a little more support”: A thematic analysis of autistic s...
- Brief Report: Creation of a Transition Readiness Scale for Adolescents...
- Autistic Input in Social Skills Interventions for Young Adults: a Syst...
- Autistic symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms am...
- Experiences and insights of college students with autism spectrum diso...
- Impact of educational and psychological interventions compared with st...
- Expectations, Concerns and Suggestions regarding the University Life o...
- The ARTEST project: the future of digital humanities teaching and lear...
- A survey of library services for autistic college students
- Perceptions of factors that facilitate and impede learning among twice...
- Adaptive behavior and psychiatric symptoms in university students with...
- Autistic spectrum disorder without intellectual impairment in adult me...
- The effect of ADHD and ASD symptoms on the mental health of college st...
- Autism training at a small liberal arts college: librarian perceptions...
- The Effect of Sleep–Wake Routines on the Negative Emotional States and...
- Associations Between Autism Symptomatology, Alexithymia, Trait Emotion...
- Adaptive Behavior of College Students With Autism
- Diagnostic Accuracy of the Social Attention and Communication Surveill...
- Canadian mapping of autism-specific supports for postsecondary student...
- Barriers to Successful Transition
- Mental Health and University Students on the Autism Spectrum: a Litera...
- Assessment of Anxiety in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy in Young Universit...
- Overlap of autism spectrum disorder and borderline personality disorde...
- The Effects of Contact and Labeling on Attitudes Towards Individuals w...
- Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Their First-Year College E...
- Design Thinking: Assessing the health needs of college students with i...
- getting a diagnosis
- adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum
- Implications of Sensory Processing and Attentional Differences Associa...
- Experiences of Parents of Specialist Peer Mentored Autistic University...
- Evaluation of a Peer Mentorship Program for Autistic College Students
- Estudiantes universitarios con trastornos del espectro del autismo: re...
- Seeing the forest and the trees: Disentang...
- Improving Transition to Adulthood for Students with Autism: A Randomiz...
- From mutual awareness to collaboration: Academic libraries and autism ...
- Advancing Mental Health Supports for Autistic Postsecondary Students: ...
- Supporting Autistic Adults in Postsecondary Settings: A Systematic Rev...
- Prospective College Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Parent Per...
- Assessment of Sesame Street online autism resources: Impacts on parent...
- An Introduction to Autism and the Autism Spectrum
- Stepped Transition in Education Program for Students with ASD (STEPS)
- Anxiety and Depression Reduction as Distal Outcomes of a College Trans...
- College-Based Support Programs for Students With Autism
- Towards the automatic detection of social biomarkers in autism spectru...
- Parent-led, stepped-care cognitive-behavioral therapy for youth with a...
- Supporting the needs of college students with autism spectrum disorder
- Health disparities and health promotion needs of college students with...
- “Nothing about us without us:” The perspectives of autistic geoscienti...
- Changes in Autism Nosology: The Social Impact of the Removal of Asperg...
- Academic librarians' support of autistic college students: A quasi-exp...
- Perceptions of and Behavior toward University Students with Autism
- Perspectives of Former Students with ASD from Australia and New Zealan...
- Family Sexuality Communication: Parent Report for Autistic Young Adult...
- The Relation Between Preference for Predictability and Autistic Traits
- Implicit and Explicit Attitudes Toward Autistic Adults
- Positive Predictors of Life Satisfaction for Autistic College Students...
- Autism Symptoms, Executive Functioning and Academic Progress in Higher...
- Understanding the factors that affect university completion for autist...
- An On-Line Survey of University Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder...
- Increasing social engagement among college students with autism
- Autism Beyond Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention
- Autism
- Characteristics of Social Anxiety of University Students with High Aut...
- Challenges and approaches for creating inclusive field courses for stu...
- How Do Graduate Teaching Assistants Perceive and Understand Their Auti...
- Diametrically opposed associations between academic achievement and so...
- The mediating effect of trauma and stressor related symptoms and rumin...
- Sex Differences in the Relationship between PTSD Spectrum Symptoms and...
- Helping Parents with the Initial Diagnosis of Autism: Parent-Informed ...
- What am I thinking? Perspective-taking from the perspective of adolesc...
- The Experiences of College Students on the Autism Spectrum: A Comparis...
- Mental Health Issues in Post-Secondary Students with Autism Spectrum D...
- The Under- and Over-Identification of Autism: Factors Associated With ...
- Mood symptoms and suicidality across the autism spectrum
- Accommodations and support services preferred by college students with...
- University life with ASD: Faculty knowledge and student needs
- A Systematic Literature Review of Empirical Research on Postsecondary ...
- A component analysis of job interview training for young adults with a...
- Prevalence and retention status of new graduate nurses with special su...
- Open Trial of Modular Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of...
- University Students with Autism: The Social and Academic Experiences o...
- Educator perspectives on the postsecondary transition difficulties of ...
- Postsecondary Education for Students with ASD: Essential Support Syste...
- Repenser l’accompagnement des stagiaires en travail social en situatio...
- Detecting Autism by Analyzing a Simulated Social Interaction
- Building bridges: librarians and autism spectrum disorder
- Special interests and inclusive academic learning: an autistic perspec...
- Autism spectrum disorder traits in typically developing emerging adult...
- Hooked on a feeling: Repetitive cognition and internalizing symptomato...
- Peer Buddies in the Classroom: The Effects on Spontaneous Conversation...
- Understanding the Lived Experiences of University Students with Autism...
- Conceptualizing the information seeking of college students on the aut...
- Strategies for Teaching STEM Subjects to College Students With Autism ...
- Seeing More Than Human: Autism and Anthropomorphic Theory of Mind
- Autism Goes to College: Understanding the Needs of a Student Populatio...
- Perspectives of University Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- An Evaluation of Specialist Mentoring for University Students with Aut...
- Brief Report: Self-Reported Academic, Social, and Mental Health Experi...
- Functioning and participation of young adults with ASD in higher educa...
- Autistic Traits and Symptoms of Social Anxiety are Differentially Rela...
- Sticking with it: Psychotherapy outcomes for adults with autism spectr...
- The Application of Adlerian Psychotherapy for an Adult with High Funct...
- Development of a College Transition and Support Program for Students w...
- Screening and Diagnostic Assessment
- A specialist peer mentoring program for university students on the aut...
- Investigations into emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents ...
- A systematic literature review of the experiences and supports of stud...
- Symptom overlap on the srs‐2 adult self‐report between adults with asd...
- Transition Post-School: Five Steps Toward Reducing the Hurdles
- “For a Long Time Our Voices have been Hushed”: Using Student Perspecti...
- Specificity, contexts, and reference groups matter when assessing auti...
- Academic attainment in students with autism spectrum disorders in dist...
- Functioning and participation problems of students with ASD in higher ...
- Stepped Transition in Education Program for Students with ASD (STEPS)
- La perception d’adolescents ayant un trouble du spectre de l’autisme l...
- A qualitative study of noise sensitivity in adults with autism spectru...
- The Facilitators, Obstacles and Needs of Individuals With Autism Spect...
- Behavioral traits of the nursing students with special educational nee...
- Loneliness and Social Anxiety Mediate the Relationship between Autism ...
- Autism spectrum disorder and engineering education - needs and conside...
- Students with autism spectrum disorder in college: Results from a prel...
- Examining the relationship between autistic traits and college adjustm...
- Adapting Cognitive Behavioral Techniques to Address Anxiety and Depres...
- School's out Forever: Postsecondary Educational Trajectories of Studen...
- Autistic-Like Traits, Sociosexuality, and Hormonal Responses to Social...
- How well are children with autism spectrum disorder doing academically...
- Comprehensive Social Communication Support for Improving Transitions f...
- Supporting Students With Asperger Syndrome on College Campuses...
- Educational Supports for High Functioning Youth With ASD...
- Overview and Evaluation of a Mentorship Program for University Student...
- Survey of College Personnel: Preparedness to Serve Students With Autis...
- References
- Educational Experiences and Needs of Higher Education Students with Au...
- Can the Five Factor Model of Personality Account for the Variability o...
- Comorbid Social Anxiety Disorder in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disord...
- ASD Traits and Co-occurring Psychopathology: The Moderating Role of Ge...
- A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Knowledge and Stigma Associated with Au...
- College Students: Mental Health Problems and Treatment Considerations
- The role of anger rumination and autism spectrum disorder–linked perse...
- Higher Education Experiences of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder...
- The A utism‐ S ...
- The Role of Graduate Schools of Education in Training Autism Professio...
- College Students’ Perceptions of Peers with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Characteristics of Two-Year College Students on the Autism Spectrum an...
- Nursing students with special educational needs in Japan
- Shifting impairment and aggression in intellectual disability and Auti...
- Going ‘Above and Beyond’: Are Those High in Autistic Traits Less Pro-s...
- “Measuring up” to ethical standards in service delivery to college stu...
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Transition From School to Adulthood for Youth With Autism Spectrum Dis...
- Autistic Traits and Abnormal Sensory Experiences in Adults
- Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the University Context: Peer...
- Predicting young adult outcome among more and less cognitively able in...
- Supporting Inclusive Education
- Adults With Autism
- Faculty Experience With College Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder...
- ASD in Females: Are We Overstating the Gender Difference in Diagnosis?
- Brief Report: Problem Solving Therapy in College Students with Autism ...
- Identifying the Unmet Needs of College Students on the Autism Spectrum
- Association between autistic traits and social anxiety among Japanese ...
- Transition from High School to Adulthood for Adolescents and Young Adu...
- Innovative Programming to Support College Students with Autism Spectru...
- Social Worries and Difficulties: Autism and/or Social Anxiety Disorder...
- Disruptive behavior disorders in children and adolescents with autism ...
- The distribution of and relationship between autistic traits and socia...
- Growing Pains: How Psychologists Can Help to Meet the Clinical Needs o...
- Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Figures and tables
Figures & Media
Tables
View Options
Get access
Access options
If you have access to journal content via a personal subscription, university, library, employer or society, select from the options below:
loading institutional access options
NAS members can access this journal content using society membership credentials.
NAS members can access this journal content using society membership credentials.
Alternatively, view purchase options below:
Purchase 24 hour online access to view and download content.
Access journal content via a DeepDyve subscription or find out more about this option.
