Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily life: diverse experiences for autistic adults
Open accessAbstract
Using a mixed methods design, this study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic and non-autistic adults. We conducted an online survey with 196 autistic and 228 non-autistic adults from Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom focusing on their experiences during the first period of the pandemic. Our results indicate rather diverse experiences within the group of autistic participants across all domains of life. In comparison with non-autistic adults, autistic adults reported less negative impact on their social life and more negative impact on health and support services. In the autism group, stress was mainly related to changing and unclear measures. A wide range of coping strategies were described as helpful in reducing stress during the pandemic.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
By contrast, at home participants could create comfortable, quiet, less overwhelming environments suited to their needs with autonomy over temperature, lighting and noise.
“By contrast, at home participants could create comfortable, quiet, less overwhelming environments suited to their needs [39,47,54,55,57-59,61] with autonomy over temperature, lighting and noise [39,42,52,55,57].”
From Homeworking experiences of neuro-divergent workers: systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [47]
Homeworking was described as requiring good self-management skills and some described struggles becoming motivated and managing their time.
“Homeworking was described as requiring good self-management skills [41] and some described struggles becoming motivated and managing their time [47].”
From Homeworking experiences of neuro-divergent workers: systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [47]
Not using public transport reduced their stress.
“suggesting that not using public transport reduced their stress [47]”
From Homeworking experiences of neuro-divergent workers: systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [47]
Some participants described the benefits of video meetings, suggesting they were more efficient and less complicated than in-person meetings as less time was spent on social niceties.
“Some participants described the benefits of video meetings (sub-theme: 'Increased use of video calls'), suggesting they were more efficient and less complicated than in-person meetings as less time was spent on social niceties [47,60].”
From Homeworking experiences of neuro-divergent workers: systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [47]
Some described difficulties concentrating in online meetings, often due to background noises.
“Some described difficulties concentrating in online meetings [47,49], often due to background noises [37,55].”
From Homeworking experiences of neuro-divergent workers: systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [47]
People with young children at home struggled to focus on work due to noise and interruptions.
“People with young children at home struggled to focus on work due to noise and interruptions [44,47,60]”
From Homeworking experiences of neuro-divergent workers: systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [47]
Some participants with ASD preferred in-person communication because of the availability of visual cues to ensure they responded appropriately; opportunities to ask questions instantly and directly, making it easier to receive immediate feedback and ability to demonstrate to colleagues that they were being productive.
“Some participants with ASD preferred in-person communication because of the availability of visual cues to ensure they responded appropriately [60]; opportunities to ask questions instantly and directly, making it easier to receive immediate feedback [42] and ability to demonstrate to colleagues that they were being productive [47].”
From Homeworking experiences of neuro-divergent workers: systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [47]
Participants in several studies described experiencing distractions while WFH.
“Participants in several studies described experiencing distractions while WFH [41,42,44,47,55,56,58,60].”
From Homeworking experiences of neuro-divergent workers: systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [47]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006) · Qualitative Research in Psychology · doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa · Cited by 194,414 · see citing works
A Global Measure of Perceived Stress
Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983) · Journal of Health and Social Behavior · doi:10.2307/2136404 · Cited by 32,807 · see citing works
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: a systematic review
Xiong, J., Lipsitz, O., Nasri, F., Lui, L. M. W., Gill, H., Phan, L., Chen-Li, D., Iacobucci, M., Ho, R., Majeed, A., et al. (2020) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.001 · Cited by 5,204 · see citing works
Now I see it, now I don’t: researcher’s position and reflexivity in qualitative research
Berger, R. (2015) · Qualitative Research · doi:10.1177/1468794112468475 · Cited by 4,031 · see citing works
Lai, M.-C., Kassee, C., Besney, R., Bonato, S., Hull, L., Mandy, W., Szatmari, P., & Ameis, S. H. (2019) · The Lancet Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(19)30289-5 · Cited by 1,892 · see citing works
Mental health effects of school closures during COVID-19
Lee, J. (2020) · The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health · doi:10.1016/s2352-4642(20)30109-7 · Cited by 1,882 · see citing works
Patients with mental health disorders in the COVID-19 epidemic
Yao, H., Chen, J.-H., & Xu, Y.-F. (2020) · The Lancet Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(20)30090-0 · Cited by 1,393 · see citing works
Loneliness in the general population: prevalence, determinants and relations to mental health
Beutel, M. E., Klein, E. M., Brähler, E., Reiner, I., Jünger, C., Michal, M., Wiltink, J., Wild, P. S., Münzel, T., Lackner, K. J., et al. (2017) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1262-x · Cited by 1,223 · see citing works
COHEN, S., & JANICKI‐DEVERTS, D. (2012) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2012.00900.x · Cited by 1,187 · see citing works
Postsecondary education and employment among youth with an autism spectrum disorder
Shattuck, P. T., Narendorf, S. C., Cooper, B., Sterzing, P. R., Wagner, M., & Taylor, J. L. (2012) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.2011-2864 · Cited by 1,110 · see citing works
Depression: A cognitive perspective
LeMoult, J., & Gotlib, I. H. (2019) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2018.06.008 · Cited by 792 · see citing works
Wood, J. J., Drahota, A., Sze, K., Har, K., Chiu, A., & Langer, D. A. (2009) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01948.x · Cited by 666 · see citing works
Wilson, J. M., Lee, J., Fitzgerald, H. N., Oosterhoff, B. J., Sevi, B., & Shook, N. J. (2020) · Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine · doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000001962 · Cited by 563 · see citing works
Psychosocial and Behavioral Impact of COVID-19 in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Online Parent Survey
Colizzi, M., Sironi, E., Antonini, F., Ciceri, M. L., Bovo, C., & Zoccante, L. (2020) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci10060341 · Cited by 550 · see citing works
Loneliness, friendship, and well-being in adults with autism spectrum disorders
Mazurek, M. O. (2014) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361312474121 · Cited by 401 · see citing works
Ameis, S. H., Lai, M., Mulsant, B. H., & Szatmári, P. (2020) · Molecular Autism · doi:10.1186/s13229-020-00365-y · Cited by 227 · see citing works
Episodic and Semantic Autobiographical Memory in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Crane, L., & Goddard, L. (2007) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0420-2 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Perceptions of Families of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder during the COVID-19 Crisis
Manning, J. H., Billian, J., Matson, J., Allen, C., & Soares, N. S. (2020) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04760-5 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
Bishop, L., Minshew, N. J., Mazefsky, C. A., & Eack, S. M. (2016) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2910-6 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
Hedley, D., Uljarević, M., Wilmot, M., Richdale, A., & Dissanayake, C. (2018) · Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2017.11.003 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
Bishop-Fitzpatrick, L., Mazefsky, C. A., & Eack, S. M. (2018) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361317703090 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Oomen, D., Nijhof, A. D., & Wiersema, J. R. (2021) · Molecular Autism · doi:10.1186/s13229-021-00424-y · Cited by 136 · see citing works
The Challenges for Labour Market Policy during the COVID‐19 Pandemic*
Dias, M. C., Joyce, R. C., Postel‐Vinay, F., & Xu, X. (2020) · Fiscal Studies · doi:10.1111/1475-5890.12233 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Pellicano, E., Brett, S., den Houting, J., Heyworth, M., Magiati, I., Steward, R., Urbanowicz, A., & Stears, M. (2022) · Autism · doi:10.1177/13623613211035936 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Loneliness in Adults on the Autism Spectrum
Ee, D., Hwang, Y. I., Reppermund, S., Srasuebkul, P., Trollor, J. N., Foley, K., & Arnold, S. R. C. (2019) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2018.0038 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Anderson, C. M., Butt, C., & Sarsony, C. (2020) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04513-4 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Black, M. H., Mahdi, S., Milbourn, B. T., Thompson, C., D'Angelo, A., Ström, E., Falkmer, M., Falkmer, T., Lerner, M. D., Halladay, A. K., et al. (2019) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2167 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Pahnke, J., Lundgren, T., Hursti, T., & Hirvikoski, T. (2014) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361313501091 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Early Pandemic Experiences of Autistic Adults: Predictors of Psychological Distress
Bal, V. H., Wilkinson, E. H., White, L. C., Law, J. K., Feliciano, P., & Chung, W. K. (2021) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2480 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Spain, D., Mason, D., Simone, J., Stoppelbein, L., White, S. W., & Happe, F. G. E. (2021) · Research in Autism · doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101747 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Goldfarb, Y., Gal, E., & Golan, O. (2022) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-021-04902-3 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Ten weeks in: COVID-19-related distress in adults with autism spectrum disorder
Adams, R. E., Zheng, S., Taylor, J. L., & Bishop, S. L. (2021) · Autism · doi:10.1177/13623613211005919 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Bundy, R., Mandy, W., Crane, L., Belcher, H., Bourne, L., Brede, J., Hull, L., Brinkert, J., & Cook, J. (2022) · Autism · doi:10.1177/13623613211065543 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Beck, K. B., Greco, C. M., Terhorst, L. A., Skidmore, E. R., Kulzer, J. L., & McCue, M. P. (2020) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01345-2 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Pellicano, E., Brett, S., den Houting, J., Heyworth, M., Magiati, I., Steward, R., Urbanowicz, A., & Stears, M. (2020) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3749228 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Evers, K., Gijbels, E., Maljaars, J., Rumball, F., Spain, D., Happe, F. G. E., & Noens, I. L. J. (2022) · Autism · doi:10.1177/13623613221119749 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Autistic Adults in the UK: A Mixed-Methods StudyPreprint
Bundy, R., Mandy, W., Crane, L., Belcher, H., Bourne, L., Brede, J., Hull, L., & Cook, J. M. (2021) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/9v5qh · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Pellicano, E., Brett, S., den Houting, J., Heyworth, M., Magiati, I., Steward, R., Urbanowicz, A., & Stears, M. (2020) · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Autistic Adults: a Scoping Review
Scheeren, A. M., Crane, L., Heyworth, M., & Pellicano, E. (2023) · Current Developmental Disorders Reports · doi:10.1007/s40474-023-00268-6 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Learning from autistic teachers: lessons about change in an era of COVID-19
Wood, R., Crane, L., Happé, F., & Moyse, R. (2024) · Educational Review · doi:10.1080/00131911.2022.2103521 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Roux, A. M., Shea, L., Steinberg, H., Rast, J. E., Anderson, K. A., Hotez, E., Rosenau, K. A., Kuo, A. A., Assing‐Murray, E., & Shattuck, P. T. (2023) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2890 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Realpe, A. X., Mills, N., Beasant, L., Douglas, S., Kenny, L., & Rai, D. (2023) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2022.0027 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
McKenney, E. E., Richards, J. K., Day, T. C., Brunwasser, S. M., Cucchiara, C. L., Kofner, B., McDonald, R. G., Gillespie‐Lynch, K., Lamm, J., Kang, E., et al. (2024) · Autism · doi:10.1177/13623613231216879 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Lew‐Koralewicz, A. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph19159468 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Evers, K., Gijbels, E., Maljaars, J., Rumball, F., Spain, D., Happe, F. G. E., & Noens, I. L. J. (2022) · Autism · doi:10.1177/13623613221119749 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Homeworking experiences of neuro-divergent workers: systematic review
Brooks, S. K., Hall, C. E., Rogers, M. B., & Greenberg, N. (2024) · Occupational Medicine · doi:10.1093/occmed/kqae095 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
A qualitative study of autistic adults’ quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns
Stewart, G. R., Leoni, M., Charlton, R. A., Pickard, H. R., & Happé, F. (2023) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2022.0035 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
The Experiences of Autistic People When Facemask Wearing and Interacting with Masked Individuals
Clegg, A., Wood, J., Hobson, H., & Sedgewick, F. (2023) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2022.0091 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Nisticò, V., Fior, G., Faggioli, R., Priori, A., Gambini, O., & Demartini, B. (2022) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare10050782 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Day, T. C., Gerber, A. S., McNair, M. L., Reicher, D., & Lerner, M. D. (2023) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2959 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Leisure Participation of Autistic Adults: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Feasibility Study
Song, W., Zheng, L., Tichá, R., Abery, B. H., & Nguyen‐Feng, V. N. (2023) · American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1352/1944-7558-128.4.319 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Kurt, I., & İzgi, F. D. (2023) · London Journal of Social Sciences · doi:10.31039/ljss.2023.5.96 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Experiences and perceptions of physical healthcare among adult autistic patients: A scoping review
Hedlund, Å., Andersson, A., Lindberg, M., & Jordal, M. (2025) · International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances · doi:10.1016/j.ijnsa.2025.100366 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Investigating the mental health of Autistic working parents: A scoping review
Gore, K., Gilbert, M., Hayward, S. M., Flower, R. L., & Barbaro, J. (2024) · Neurodiversity · doi:10.1177/27546330241272174 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Exploring the landscape of adult autism research in psychology: a bibliometric and network analysis
Mota, F. B., Braga, L., & Cabral, B. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1427090 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overweight and obesity: the case of NEET in Türkiye
Karaoğlan, D., Beğen, N., & Tat, P. (2024) · Discover Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12982-024-00297-5 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Effect of COVID-19 on autism spectrum disorders: A bibliometric analysis based on original articles
Lyu, K., Li, J.-S., Chen, M., Zhang, W., & Hu, M. (2023) · Medicine · doi:10.1097/md.0000000000035310 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Chaity, T. T., Khan, M. A. R., & Rahman, F. (2023) · Iran Journal of Computer Science · doi:10.1007/s42044-023-00166-5 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Lowe, J., Jones, S. C., & Mizzi, S. (2024) · Disability & Society · doi:10.1080/09687599.2024.2439973 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Guidi, S., Palmitesta, P., Bracci, M., Marchigiani, E., & Parlangeli, O. (2023) · Interacting with Computers · doi:10.1093/iwc/iwad006 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Redquest, B. K., Andreasen, S., Turner, K., & McMorris, C. A. (2023) · Developments in neuroethics and bioethics · doi:10.1016/bs.dnb.2023.05.007 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Gerber, A. S., Keluskar, J. L., & Lerner, M. D. (2023) · Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology · doi:10.1080/15374416.2023.2272933 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Cullen, J. A., Leslie, A., & Haney, J. L. (2024) · Social Work in Mental Health · doi:10.1080/15332985.2024.2357704 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
KHIJAKADZE, N., & Manjavidze, I. (2023) · EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL MEDICINE GEORGIA · doi:10.52340/jecm.2023.02.08
Ball, R. C., Morris, E. M. J., Richdale, A. L., & Lawson, L. P. (2024) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/cs9p8
Hricak, K., Helt, M. S., Maddox, B. B., & de Marchena, A. B. (2024) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2023.0115
Nasiri, A., Entezari, F., Karimi, M., Naghibi, N., Golshan, F., Sabzalizadeh, M., & Afarinesh, M. R. (2024) · Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews · doi:10.2174/0126660822304174240920031039
Rothe, J., Thiel, T., Roessner, V., & Ring, M. (2025) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-025-07430-x
- Authors
- Maljaars, J., Gijbels, E., Evers, K., Spain, D., Rumball, F., Happé, F., & Noens, I.
- Affiliations
- KU Leuven (BE)
- King's College London (GB)
- Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Maljaars, Jarymke
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2022-01-25
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 319-331
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- PMC
- PMC8788399
- OpenAlex
- W4207020750
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 4
- FWCI
- 6.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lirias (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- King's College London
- KU Leuven
- Vlaamse regering
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Social impacts of COVID-19
- Keywords
- COVID-19 pandemic, autistic adults, everyday life, social life, stress, coping strategies, pandemic control measures
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, COVID-19, Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Autistic Disorder, Humans, Pandemics
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
