Cited by 142Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchFamily and Disability Support ResearchDown syndrome and intellectual disability research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 56 of the 57 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The combined impact of social support and perceived stress on quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorder and without intellectual disability

Open access

Bishop-Fitzpatrick, Lauren, Mazefsky, Carla A, Eack, Shaun M·2018·Autism

DOI 10.1177/1362361317703090PMC PMC5711618

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

Identifying modifiable correlates of good quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorder is of paramount importance for intervention development as the population of adults with autism spectrum disorder increases. This study sought to examine social support and perceived stress as potential modifiable correlates of quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorder. We hypothesized that adults with autism spectrum disorder without co-occurring intellectual disabilities ( N = 40; aged 18–44 years) would report lower levels of social support and quality of life than typical community volunteers who were matched for age, sex, and race ( N = 25). We additionally hypothesized that social support would buffer the effect of perceived stress on quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Results indicated that adults with autism spectrum disorder reported significantly lower levels of social support and quality of life than matched typical community volunteers. In addition, findings showed significant direct effects of social support and perceived stress on quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Social support did not buffer the effect of perceived stress on quality of life. Interventions that teach adults with autism spectrum disorder skills to help them better manage stress and cultivate supportive social relationships have the potential to improve quality of life.

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

Crossref · 10.1177/1362361317703090

Cites

56 of 56 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing
R Core Team (2000) · doi:10.32614/r.manuals · Cited by 355,893
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
American Psychiatric Association (2013) · doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596 · Cited by 116,369
Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences
Muller, K. E., & Cohen, J. (1989) · Technometrics · doi:10.2307/1270020 · Cited by 99,603
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
Depression and quality of life in older persons: A review
Sivertsen, H., Bjørkløf, G. H., Engedal, K., Selbæk, G., & Helvik, A.-S. (2015) · Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders · doi:10.1159/000437299 · Cited by 14,152
Missing data: our view of the state of the art
Schafer, J. L., & Graham, J. W. (2002) · Psychological Methods · doi:10.1037/1082-989x.7.2.147 · Cited by 11,638
Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised: A revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders
Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. (1994) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/bf02172145 · Cited by 9,065
Development of the World Health Organization WHOQOL-BREF Quality of Life Assessment
THE WHOQOL GROUP (1998) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291798006667 · Cited by 7,933
The environment and disease: association or causation?
Hill, A. B. (2015) · Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine · doi:10.1177/0141076814562718 · Cited by 7,804
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule—Generic: A Standard Measure of Social and Communication Deficits Associated with the Spectrum of Autism
Lord, C., Risi, S., Lambrecht, L., Cook, E. H., Leventhal, B. L., DiLavore, P. C., Pickles, A., & Rutter, M. (2000) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1023/a:1005592401947 · Cited by 7,520

Show all 57 references

Research works printed but not linked: 4

Bishop-Fitzpatrick L, Autism Research
First M, 2002, Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders, Research Version
Helles A, Autism
Wechsler D, 2008, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale® (WAIS®-IV)

Sorted by citations

Autism spectrum disorder
Lord, C., Brugha, T. S., Charman, T., Cusack, J., Dumas, G., Frazier, T., Jones, E. J. H., Jones, R. M., Pickles, A., State, M. W., et al. (2020) · Nature Reviews Disease Primers · doi:10.1038/s41572-019-0138-4 · Cited by 1,859
Experiences of autism acceptance and mental health in autistic adults
Cage, E., Di Monaco, J., & Newell, V. (2018) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3342-7 · Cited by 538
“However, autistic individuals may struggle to feel accepted by various individuals - with research suggesting that they experience less social support from others as well as perceiving more stress (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al. 2017).”
Background
Listening to the autistic voice: Mental health priorities to guide research and practice in autism from a stakeholder-driven project
Benevides, T. W., Shore, S. M., Palmer, K., Duncan, P., Plank, A., Andresen, M.-L., Caplan, R., Cook, B., Gassner, D., Hector, B. L., et al. (2020) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361320908410 · Cited by 258
Examining the impact of COVID-19 on stress and coping strategies in individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions.
Umucu, E., & Lee, B. (2020) · Rehabilitation Psychology · doi:10.1037/rep0000328 · Cited by 281
The vulnerability experiences quotient (VEQ): a study of vulnerability, mental health and life satisfaction in autistic adults
Griffiths, S., Allison, C., Kenny, R., Holt, R., Smith, P., & Baron‐Cohen, S. (2019) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2162 · Cited by 246
How do core autism traits and associated symptoms relate to quality of life? Findings from the Longitudinal European Autism Project
Oakley, B. F., Tillmann, J., Ahmad, J., Crawley, D., San José Cáceres, A., Holt, R., Charman, T., Banaschewski, T., Buitelaar, J., Simonoff, E., et al. (2021) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361320959959 · Cited by 133
“Last, almost all existing studies have focused on single age groups, predominantly children (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2018), even though autism is a lifelong condition for which QoL reductions have been shown to persist into later adulthood (Graham Holmes et al., 2020; Mason et al., 2019; van…”
Background
Adults with Autism: Changes in Understanding Since DSM-111
Howlin, P. (2021) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04847-z · Cited by 157
Defining Positive Outcomes in More and Less Cognitively Able Autistic Adults
McCauley, J. B., Pickles, A. R., Huerta, M., & Lord, C. (2020) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2359 · Cited by 89
A Lifespan Approach to Patient‐Reported Outcomes and Quality of Life for People on the Autism Spectrum
Holmes, L. G., Zampella, C., Clements, C. C., McCleery, J. P., Maddox, B. B., Parish‐Morris, J., Udhnani, M. D., Schultz, R. T., & Miller, J. S. (2020) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2275 · Cited by 76
Social support and links to quality of life among middle-aged and older autistic adults
Charlton, R. A., McQuaid, G. A., & Wallace, G. L. (2022) · Autism · doi:10.1177/13623613221081917 · Cited by 75
“…examining social support among autistic adolescents and young adults have identified lower rates of overall subjective social support compared to comparison groups of both neurotypical individuals and those with specific reading disability (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2018; Humphrey & Symes, 2010).”
Background
The Mediating Role of Social Support in the Relationship Between Parenting Stress and Resilience Among Chinese Parents of Children with Disability
Zhao, M., Fu, W., & Ai, J. (2021) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04806-8 · Cited by 72
Quality of life in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder: results from a nationwide Danish survey using self-reports and parental proxy-reports
Knüppel, A., Telléus, G. K., Jakobsen, H., & Lauritsen, M. B. (2018) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2018.09.004 · Cited by 71
“Additionally, it could have been highly relevant to include variables describing perceived support, perceived stress and friendships, as has been done in several studies (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2017; Helles et al., 2017; Hong et al., 2016; Renty & Roeyers, 2006) when investigating potential associations with QoL.…”
Background
Lifetime and perceived stress, social support, loneliness, and health in autistic adults.
Moseley, R. L., Turner-Cobb, J. M., Spahr, C. M., Shields, G. S., & Slavich, G. M. (2021) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/hea0001108 · Cited by 71
“, 2015, 2017) and lower quality of life (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2018; Hong et al., 2016).”
Background
Risks Associated With Undiagnosed ADHD and/or Autism: A Mixed-Method Systematic Review
French, B., Daley, D., Groom, M. J., & Cassidy, S. (2023) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/10870547231176862 · Cited by 96
“, 2018), social problems (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2018), increased vulnerability to sexual abuse in women (Bargiela et al.”
Background
Social cognition as a predictor of functional and social skills in autistic adults without intellectual disability
Sasson, N. J., Morrison, K. E., Kelsven, S., & Pinkham, A. E. (2019) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2195 · Cited by 64
Autism and mood disorders
Oakley, B. F. M., Loth, E., & Murphy, D. (2021) · International Review of Psychiatry · doi:10.1080/09540261.2021.1872506 · Cited by 61
Resilience in the face of neurodivergence: A scoping review of resilience and factors promoting positive outcomes
Black, M. H., Helander, J., Segers, J., Ingard, C., Bervoets, J., de Puget, V. G., & Bölte, S. (2024) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102487 · Cited by 73
Coping, social support, and family quality of life for caregivers of individuals with autism: Meta-analytic structural equation modeling
Wang, R., Liu, Q., & Zhang, W. (2021) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2021.111351 · Cited by 54
Increased perceived stress is negatively associated with activities of daily living and subjective quality of life in younger, middle, and older autistic adults
McQuaid, G. A., Weiss, C. H. H., Said, A. J., Pelphrey, K. A., Lee, N., & Wallace, G. L. (2022) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2779 · Cited by 51
“These findings converge with literature indicating that greater levels of perceived stress in autistic adults are associated with overall lower subjective QoL (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2018; Bishop-Fitzpatrick, Smith DaWalt, et al., 2017).”
BackgroundResultInfluential
Parental self-efficacy and family quality of life in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder in China: The possible mediating role of social support
Feng, Y., Zhou, X., Qin, X., Cai, G., Lin, Y., Pang, Y., Chen, B., Deng, T., & Zhang, L. (2021) · Journal of Pediatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2021.10.014 · Cited by 59
“This Was Just How This Friendship Worked”: Experiences of Interpersonal Victimization Among Autistic Adults
Pearson, A., Rees, J. C., & Forster, S. (2022) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2021.0035 · Cited by 61
“These ﬁndings were consistent with previous research into relationships 16–20 and peer victimization among autistic adults.”
Acceptance and commitment therapy for autistic adults: An open pilot study in a psychiatric outpatient context
Pahnke, J., Hirvikoski, T., Bjureberg, J., Bölte, S., Jokinen, J., Bohman, B., & Lundgren, T. (2019) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2019.04.002 · Cited by 48
Validity of Estimating the Maximal Oxygen Consumption by Consumer Wearables: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis and Expert Statement of the INTERLIVE Network
Molina‐García, P., Notbohm, H. L., Schumann, M., Argent, R., Hetherington‐Rauth, M., Stang, J. S., Bloch, W., Cheng, S., Ekelund, U., Sardinha, L. B., et al. (2022) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-021-01639-y · Cited by 54
A meta regression analysis of quality of life correlates in adults with ASD
Kim, S. Y., & Bottema‐Beutel, K. (2019) · Research in Autism · doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2018.11.004 · Cited by 47
Quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorder: influence of age, sex, and a controlled, randomized mindfulness-based stress reduction pilot intervention
Braden, B. B., Pagni, B. A., Monahan, L., Walsh, M. J. M., Dixon, M. V., Delaney, S., Ballard, L., & Ware, J. E. (2022) · Quality of Life Research · doi:10.1007/s11136-021-03013-x · Cited by 44
Autism spectrum disorder and the science of social work: A grand challenge for social work research
Bishop, L., Dababnah, S., Baker-Ericzén, M. J., Smith, M. J., & Magaña, S. (2018) · Social Work in Mental Health · doi:10.1080/15332985.2018.1509411 · Cited by 60
A Critical Review of Academic Literature Constructing Well-Being in Autistic Adults
Lam, G. Y. H., Sabnis, S. V., Valcarlos, M. M., & Wolgemuth, J. R. (2021) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2020.0053 · Cited by 47
“Bullies tend to be obvious” : autistic adults perceptions of friendship and the concept of ‘mate crime’.
Forster, S., & Pearson, A. (2019) · Disability & Society · doi:10.1080/09687599.2019.1680347 · Cited by 47
Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review
Sáez‐Suanes, G. P., & Álvarez-Couto, M. (2021) · Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s40489-021-00254-x · Cited by 39
Autistic well-being: A scoping review of scientific studies from a neurodiversity-affirmative perspective
Najeeb, P., & Quadt, L. (2024) · Neurodiversity · doi:10.1177/27546330241233088 · Cited by 44
“These include transitional periods such as late adolescence, recreational activities, workplace environments, everyday decision-making, and associated independence (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2017; Cribb et al., 2019; Folta et al., 2022; Gaona et al., 2019; Kapp, 2018; Waldron et al., 2022).”
Social support as a mediator of stress and life satisfaction for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities during the COVID ‐19 pandemic
Fisher, M. H., Sung, C. Y. Y., Kammes, R. R., Okyere, C., & Park, J. (2021) · Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities · doi:10.1111/jar.12943 · Cited by 36
“…et al., 2011), social support has a powerful influence on an individual's mental health and subjective well-being and may serve a protective role to ameliorate mental health and behavioural issues (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2018; Lunsky & Benson, 2001; Scott & Havercamp, 2014; Sung et al., 2021).”
BackgroundMethod
Inter‐relationships between trait resilience, coping strategies, and mental health outcomes in autistic adults
Muniandy, M., Richdale, A. L., Arnold, S. R. C., Trollor, J. N., & Lawson, L. P. (2021) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2564 · Cited by 44
“Interventions addressing stress and the management of stress have the potential to improve the quality of life in the autistic adult population (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2018).”
Background
Sexual Minority Identities in Autistic Adults: Diversity and Associations with Mental Health Symptoms and Subjective Quality of Life
McQuaid, G. A., Gendy, J., Lee, N., & Wallace, G. L. (2022) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2021.0088 · Cited by 39
“3 Less social support, 7,49,93 higher perceived stress, 49 and greater depressive symptomatology 93 have all been associated with poorer subjective QoL in autistic adults.”
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily life: diverse experiences for autistic adults
Maljaars, J., Gijbels, E., Evers, K., Spain, D., Rumball, F., Happé, F., & Noens, I. (2023) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-022-05437-x · Cited by 30
“I Always Knew I Was Different”: Experiences of Receiving a Diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder in Adulthood—a Meta-Ethnographic Systematic Review
Gellini, H., & Marczak, M. (2023) · Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s40489-023-00356-8 · Cited by 38
Tai Chi with music improves quality of life among community-dwelling older persons with mild to moderate depressive symptoms: A cluster randomized controlled trial
Liao, S., Chong, M. C., Tan, M. P., & Chua, Y. (2018) · Geriatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.08.001 · Cited by 26
Stepped Transition to Employment and Postsecondary Education Success (STEPS) for Adolescents and Adults with Autism: Community Implementation Pilot Trial
White, S. W., Brewe, A. M., & Powell, N. P. (2025) · JMIR Formative Research · doi:10.2196/70137 · Cited by 24
“Adolescents and adults with autism experience lower subjective quality of life than do age-and cognitive abil-ity-matched peers without autism [7,8], and they face challenges with living independently [9,10].”
Symptom severity and posttraumatic growth in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: The moderating role of social support
Feng, Y., Zhou, X., Liu, Q., Deng, T., Qin, X., Chen, B., & Zhang, L. (2022) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2673 · Cited by 26
“…fewer sleep and emotional problems, and better life satisfaction and quality of life, which may weaken the detrimental effect of symptom severity on PTG and achieve relatively high PTG levels (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2018; Koukouriki et al., 2020; Mello et al., 2021; Shepherd et al., 2018).”
Background
The impact of sleep quality on quality of life for autistic adults
McLean, K. J., Eack, S. M., & Bishop, L. (2021) · Research in Autism · doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101849 · Cited by 24
Self-citation
Is quality of life related to high autistic traits, high ADHD traits and their Interaction? Evidence from a Young-Adult Community-Based twin sample
Capp, S. J., Agnew‐Blais, J. C., Lau‐Zhu, A., Colvert, E., Tye, C., Aydın, Ü., Lautarescu, A., Ellis, C. L., Saunders, T. S., O’Brien, L., et al. (2022) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-022-05640-w · Cited by 23
The effects of Animal Assisted Therapy on autonomic and endocrine activity in adults with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized controlled trial
Wijker, C., Kupper, N. H. M., Leontjevas, R., Spek, A. A., & Enders‐Slegers, M. (2021) · General Hospital Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.05.003 · Cited by 28
A Systematic Review of Self-Reported Stress Questionnaires in People on the Autism Spectrum
Thoen, A., Steyaert, J. G., Alaerts, K., Evers, K., & Damme, T. V. (2021) · Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s40489-021-00293-4 · Cited by 26
Cardiovascular disease risk factors in autistic adults: The impact of sleep quality and antipsychotic medication use
Bishop, L., Charlton, R. A., McLean, K. J., McQuaid, G. A., Lee, N., & Wallace, G. L. (2022) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2872 · Cited by 20
An Examination of Perceived Stress and Emotion Regulation Challenges as Mediators of Associations Between Camouflaging and Internalizing Symptomatology
McQuaid, G. A., Sadowski, L. Y., Lee, N., & Wallace, G. L. (2023) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2022.0121 · Cited by 25
“61,101,102 The 10-item version of the PSS 100 was used in this study (e.g., ‘‘In the last month, how often have you felt difﬁculties were piling up so high that you could not overcome them,’’ ‘‘In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the important things in your…”
Life Satisfaction in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Franke, K. B., Hills, K. J., Huebner, E. S., & Flory, K. (2018) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-018-3822-4 · Cited by 19
Adolescence internalizing problems as a mediator between autism diagnosis in childhood and quality of life in emerging adults with and without autism: a 10-year longitudinal study
Andersen, P. N., Orm, S., Fossum, I. N., Øie, M. G., & Skogli, E. W. (2023) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-023-04635-w · Cited by 19
Stress Impact of COVID-19 Sports Restrictions on Disabled Athletes
Fiorilli, G., Buonsenso, A., Davola, N., Martino, G. D., Baralla, F., Boutious, S., Centorbi, M., Calcagno, G., & di Cagno, A. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph182212040 · Cited by 22
“Several researchers have underlined that perceived stress is related to poorer health status and a higher level of distress, anxiety and depression in individuals with disabilities [21].”
Background
Relationship between caregiver burden and family resilience among Chinese parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: The mediating role of social support and positive cognition
Chen, X., Tao, J., Zhang, Y., Xu, Q., & Dong, C. (2025) · Journal of Pediatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2025.02.020 · Cited by 18
Coping‐resilience profiles and experiences of stress in autistic adults
Muniandy, M., Richdale, A. L., & Lawson, L. P. (2022) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2817 · Cited by 20
“Good to excellent internal reliability has been reported for the PSS-10 in adults from the general (α = 0.91; Mitchell et al., 2008; Wu & Amtmann, 2013) and the autistic population (α = 0.87, Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2018; α = 0.76, Hong et al., 2016), as was the case in the present study (0.90).”
ResultInfluential
Examining Rates of Traumatic Events and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Among Autistic Adults
Andrzejewski, T. M., Batista, S. G., Abu-Ramadan, T. M., Breitenfeldt, K. E., Tassone, A. U., Winch, A. T., Rozek, D. C., & McDonnell, C. G. (2023) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2023.0022 · Cited by 20
“54,55 Re-latedly, high levels of community support and community connectedness may improve well-being 56 and protect autistic individuals from stigma and social stress, 57 suggesting that social support may be an important target in future work examining PTSD symptoms among autistic adults.”
Mindfulness-based stress reduction for autistic adults: A feasibility study in an outpatient context.
Agius, H., Luoto, A.-K., Backman, A., Eriksdotter, C., Jayaram-Lindström, N., Bölte, S., & Hirvikoski, T. (2024) · Autism · doi:10.1177/13623613231172809 · Cited by 17
“…the symptoms of stress further, while interventions providing adaptive coping skills could prevent long-term stress from developing into conditions that require psychiatric services in the first place (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2017; Mandy, 2022; Moseley et al., 2021; White et al., 2018).”
Background
Mortality rate and age of death among Medicare-enrolled autistic older adults
Krantz, M., Dalmacy, D. M., Bishop, L., Hyer, J. M., & Hand, B. N. (2022) · Research in Autism · doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2022.102077 · Cited by 19
A Randomized Clinical Trial Targeting Daily Living Skills in Autistic Adolescents Without an Intellectual Disability Before the Transition to Adulthood
Duncan, A. W., Meinzen‐Derr, J. K., Ruble, L. A., Fassler, C., & Stark, L. J. (2023) · Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics · doi:10.1097/dbp.0000000000001222 · Cited by 15
Impact of Online Learning in the Context of COVID-19 on Undergraduates with Disabilities and Mental Health Concerns
Zhang, H., Morris, M. E., Nurius, P. S., Mack, K., Brown, J., Kuehn, K. S., Sefidgar, Y. S., Xu, X., Riskin, E. A., Dey, A. K., et al. (2022) · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing · doi:10.1145/3538514 · Cited by 15
Use of a mHealth Mobile Application to Reduce Stress in Adults with Autism: a Pre-Post Pilot Study of the Stress Autism Mate (SAM)
Hoeberichts, K., Roke, Y., Niks, I. M. W., & van Harten, P. N. (2022) · Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s41252-022-00304-3 · Cited by 15
“Adults with autism report higher levels of perceived stress and have lower perception of their coping abilities compared to adults without autism (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2017).”
Background
Formal social support and quality of life of caregivers with autistic children: a large-scale nationwide survey in China
Ran, Q., Tu, L., Wu, Y., Zhang, S., Zhang, E., Li, H., Su, Y., & Xiang, M. (2023) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1282778 · Cited by 16
A paradoxical psychological impact of COVID-19 among a sample of Italian adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
Nisticò, V., Gambini, O., Pizzi, L., Faggioli, R., Priori, A., & Demartini, B. (2021) · Journal of clinical neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2021.11.026 · Cited by 7
Brief Report: The Influence of Autism Severity and Depression on Self-Determination Among Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
White, S., Smith, I. C., & Brewe, A. M. (2021) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-021-05145-y · Cited by 6
Relationship between perceived social support and disability with the mediating role of perceived stress among older adults
Dehghankar, L., Valinezhad, S., Amerzadeh, M., Poor, F. Z., Hosseinkhani, Z., & Motalebi, S. A. (2024) · BMC Geriatrics · doi:10.1186/s12877-024-04871-z · Cited by 13
Discrimination and victimization as mediators between social support and psychological distress in autistic adults
Jeanneret, N., Courcy, I., Caron, V., Giroux, M., Guerrero, L., Ouimet, M., d’Arc, B. F., & Soulières, I. (2022) · Research in Autism · doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2022.102038 · Cited by 17
Self-esteem moderates the impact of perceived social support on the life satisfaction of adults with autism spectrum disorder
Tsermentseli, S. K. (2022) · Autism & Developmental Language Impairments · doi:10.1177/23969415221147430 · Cited by 12
The effect of the stress autism mate app on perceived stress, coping, and resilience in adults with autism: a single-case experimental design
Hoeberichts, K., Roke, Y., Niks, I. M. W., & van Harten, P. N. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1347947 · Cited by 12
Fostering Friendship and Dating Skills Among Adults on the Autism Spectrum: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Polish Version of the PEERS® for Young Adults Curriculum
Płatos, M., Wojaczek, K., & Laugeson, E. A. (2023) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-023-05921-y · Cited by 10
A randomized controlled trial into the effectiveness of a mobile health application (SAM) to reduce stress and improve well-being in autistic adults
Spaargaren, K. L., Roke, Y., Begeer, S., van Straten, A., Riper, H. M., Greaves‐Lord, K., & Scheeren, A. M. (2025) · Autism · doi:10.1177/13623613251346885 · Cited by 11
“1 Moreover, autistic individuals are found to encounter more frequent daily stressors and more stressful life events than non-autistic adults (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2017; Moseley et al., 2021).”
Mental health of autistic adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: The impact of perceived stress, intolerance of uncertainty, and coping style
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
“For autistic adults specifically, the instrument has shown good internal consistency, with Cronbach’s α of 0.87 (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2017, 2018).”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Social Capital in Old People Living with HIV Is Associated with Quality of Life: A Cross‐Sectional Study in China
Lin, P., Yu, B., Han, J., Wang, Z. J., Jia, P., & Yang, S. (2020) · BioMed Research International · doi:10.1155/2020/7294574 · Cited by 10
“These findings highlight the importance of social capital for the QoL and provide support that improving interpersonal support, promoting social trust, and health care participation through targeted interventions for PLWH may be effective and evidence-based strategies for improving their QoL [62].”
Background
Leisure and Adaptive Behavior for Individuals with Autism
Manente, C. J., LaRue, R. H., Maraventano, J. C., Butler, C., Budge, J. L., Scarpa, C., & Kahng, S. (2022) · Autism and child psychopathology series · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-98507-3_19 · Cited by 9
Stress and Coping in Autistic Young Adults
Cheak‐Zamora, N., & Odunleye, O. (2022) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2021.0043 · Cited by 9
“21,47,48 Comparisons with typically developing peers indicate that both groups have similar levels of stress related to academic success, but autistic young adults had more nonacademic stressors and described fewer opportunities to express or release stress.”
Brief report: Changes in quality of life and social functioning during vocational program – a pilot study of autistic adults
Kandalaft, M. R., & DeBrabander, K. M. (2021) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04821-9 · Cited by 8
The relationship between fear of COVID-19 and depression, anxiety and stress in persons with disabilities: A cross-sectional study
Öz, H. G., & Nazik, E. (2023) · Archives of Psychiatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2022.12.019 · Cited by 9
“…Received 27 April 2022; Received in revised form 28 September 2022; Accepted 27 December 2022 Archives of Psychiatric Nursing 43 (2023) 15–21 of depression, anxiety, and functional limitations (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2018; Morrow et al., 2021; Park et al., 2019; Umucu et al., 2018).”
Background
The Social Support Network of Adults with an Autism Spectrum Condition: An Exploration Using the Network in Action-Questionnaire
van den Heuvel, R. M., Wensing, M., Geurts, H. M., & Teunisse, J. (2022) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-022-05467-5 · Cited by 7
Stress in autism (STREAM): A study protocol on the role of circadian activity, sleep quality and sensory reactivity
Gernert, C. C., Falter‐Wagner, C. M., Noreika, V., Jachs, B., Jassim, N., Gibbs, K., Streicher, J., Betts, H., & Bekinschtein, T. A. (2024) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0303209 · Cited by 9
The partial µ-opioid agonist buprenorphine in autism spectrum disorder: a case report
Skoglund, C. B., Leknes, S., & Heilig, M. A. (2022) · Journal of Medical Case Reports · doi:10.1186/s13256-022-03384-w · Cited by 5
Coping Strategies and Help-Seeking Behaviors of College Students and Postdoctoral Fellows with Disabilities or Pre-Existing Conditions during COVID-19
Wolfner, C., Ott, C., Upshaw, K., Stowe, A. M., Schwiebert, L. M., & Lanzi, R. G. (2023) · Disabilities · doi:10.3390/disabilities3010006 · Cited by 7
Comparing Caregiving Outcomes Among Male and Female Parents of Autistic Adults
Marsack‐Topolewski, C. N., & McGinley, J. M. (2024) · Families in Society The Journal of Contemporary Social Services · doi:10.1177/10443894241233328 · Cited by 5
The contribution of distress factors and Coping Resources to the motivation to use ICT among adults with intellectual disability during COVID-19
Lifshitz, H., Gur, A., Shnitzer-Meirovitz, S., & Eden, S. (2022) · Education and Information Technologies · doi:10.1007/s10639-022-11042-3 · Cited by 5
Snack Talk: Effects of a Naturalistic Visual Communication Support on Increasing Conversation Engagement for Adults with Disabilities
Bateman, K. J., Wilson, S. E., Ingvarsson, E. T., Doucette, J. L., Therrien, W. J., Nevill, R. E. A., & Mazurek, M. O. (2023) · Behavior Analysis in Practice · doi:10.1007/s40617-023-00775-3 · Cited by 5
TRAJETÓRIA ACADÊMICA DE UM PÓS-GRADUANDO COM TRANSTORNO DO ESPECTRO AUTISTA
Olivati, A. G., & Leite, L. P. (2017) · Psicologia em Estudo · doi:10.4025/psicolestud.v22i4.37665 · Cited by 5
Psychometric Properties of the Peruvian Version of the MOS Scale for Social Support in Cancer Patients and Convergent Network with Quality of Life
Ramos‐Vera, C., Calle, D., Fiesta, H. R. C., Lamilla, L. L. L., Serpa‐Barrientos, A., & Saintila, J. (2023) · Patient Preference and Adherence · doi:10.2147/ppa.s409802 · Cited by 4
Social Network Structure in Autistic Individuals: A Systematic Review
Lei, J., Qian, X., & Kim, K. M. (2025) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2024.0029 · Cited by 4
“23 The smaller social network for older autistic individuals is likely due to a lack of social support 24 for developing friend-ship rather than a deliberate choice by autistic individuals.”
Social Agency and Neurodivergent Routines: Supports and Barriers to the Mental Health of Autistic Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dallman, A., Wilson, K. P., & Friesner, E. (2023) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.2023.050049 · Cited by 5
Un programme de psychoéducation pour les adultes avec autisme sans déficience intellectuelle
Connan, A. (2019) · Journal de Thérapie Comportementale et Cognitive · doi:10.1016/j.jtcc.2019.01.002 · Cited by 4
Quality of Life and Disability
Memišević, H., & Ibralić, I. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-40858-8_459-1 · Cited by 4
Exploring the Coping Resources of Caregivers with Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Southern Ghana
Appah, J., Senoo-Dogbey, V. E., Wuaku, D. A., Akpagloh, M. C., Armah, D., & Laari, L. (2025) · Sage Open Pediatrics · doi:10.1177/30502225251374932 · Cited by 8
“For instance, Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al 50 found that social and external support positively impact the overall quality of life for families of children with ASD.”
The Effect of Virtual Reality–Based Social Cognitive Training for Autistic Adults: Protocol for STEPS (Social Cognitive Training Enhancing Pro-Functional Skills) Randomized Clinical Trial
Andresen, J., Jeppesen, A. C. E., Due, A. S., Mariegaard, L. S., Parvaiz, R., Hjorthøj, C. R., Pinkham, A. E., Nordentoft, M., Letnar, G., Jepsen, J. R. M., et al. (2025) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/72854 · Cited by 3
“Social cognitive impairments are key deficits faced by autistic adults [15], which severely impact social interactions, hinder educational and vocational functioning, and compromise quality of life [16-18].”
COVID-19 stress, health issues, and correlations with different genders and age groups
Ermasova, N., & Rekhter, N. (2021) · Journal of Gender Studies · doi:10.1080/09589236.2021.1941815 · Cited by 3
Pengaruh Dukungan Sosial terhadap Kualitas Hidup pada Individu Autistik Dewasa
Departemen Psikologi Fakultas Psikologi Universitas Airlangga, J. T., Surjaningrum, E. R., & Mujahadah, H. (2022) · Sosio Konsepsia · doi:10.33007/ska.v11i3.3085 · Cited by 3
Perceived stress and emotion regulation mediate associations between camouflaging and internalizing symptomatology among autistic adultsPreprint
McQuaid, G. A., Sadowski, L. Y., Lee, N., & Wallace, G. L. (2022) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/q375t · Cited by 3
Depression in autism: Unmasking the mediating role of mentalization, attachment, perceived social support, and psychological flexibilityPreprint
Komoróczy, E., Sörnyei, D., Vass, Á., Szuromi, B., Vizin, G., Réthelyi, J., & Farkas, K. (2024) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2024.07.12.24310324 · Cited by 2
Social Network Types in Autistic Adults and Its Associations with Mastery, Quality of Life, and Autism Characteristics
van den Heuvel, R. M., Teunisse, J., Radhoe, T. A., van der Putten, W., Torenvliet, C., Wen, S., Wensing, M., & Geurts, H. M. (2025) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-025-06722-1 · Cited by 2
Differences in the Social Experiences of Autistic and Non‐Autistic Adolescents by Gender
Roberts, E., Mandy, W., & Flouri, E. (2025) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.70118 · Cited by 2
“Due to social cognition and communication differences, autistic and non-autistic individuals likely find it more challenging to establish supportive relationships with each other as a result of the double-empathy problem (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al. 2018; Jones et al. 2024).”
Calidad de Vida de los jóvenes con Trastorno del Espectro Autista en la transición a la edad adulta
González, A. M., & Escalona, R. C. (2021) · Revista de Psiquiatría Infanto-Juvenil · doi:10.31766/revpsij.v38n3a3 · Cited by 2
Using percentiles in the interpretation of Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scores: Guidelines for autism
Schuchard, J., Kaplan‐Kahn, E. A., Carle, A. C., Holmes, L. G., Law, K., Miller, J. S., Parish‐Morris, J., & Forrest, C. B. (2022) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.2833 · Cited by 3
Psychotherapeutic Approaches for Autistic Adolescents and Adults
White, S. W., Golt, J., Musich, F. M., & Spain, D. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-46463-8_17 · Cited by 2
LIVED EXPERIENCES OF TEACHERS USING ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES IN TEACHING ASD LEARNERS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY
Oyan, J. G., Alas, A. F. D., & Bautista, J. A. L. (2024) · EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) · doi:10.36713/epra16837 · Cited by 2
“For example, a study by Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al. (2017) found that individuals with ASD exhibit diverse patterns of sensory sensitivities, with some being hypersensitive to certain stimuli while others are hyposensitive.”
Background
Children with Autism Spectrum Conditions: Social Norms and Expectations in Swedish Preschools
Holmqvist, M. (2022) · International perspectives on early childhood education and development · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-91297-0_3 · Cited by 2
Adaptaciones de las terapias psicológicas para adultos con Trastornos del Espectro Autista sin Discapacidad Intelectual
Musich, F. M., & Aragón-Daud, A. (2022) · Vertex Revista Argentina de Psiquiatría · doi:10.53680/vertex.v33i157.266 · Cited by 2
Association Between Therapeutic Interventions and Quality of Life in People With Autism
Movsessian, T., & Osoba, T. (2022) · Journal of Social Behavioral and Health Sciences · doi:10.5590/jsbhs.2022.16.1.21 · Cited by 2
Formal and informal support for Croatian and Serbian people with disabilities and their families: A scoping review
Čolić, M., & Buljevac, M. (2023) · Specijalna edukacija i rehabilitacija · doi:10.5937/specedreh22-43145 · Cited by 4
Suggestion of a dynamic model of the development of neurodevelopmental disorders and the phenomenon of autism
Aggernæs, B. (2020) · AIMS molecular science · doi:10.3934/molsci.2020008 · Cited by 3

Authors: Bishop-Fitzpatrick, L., Mazefsky, C. A., & Eack, S. M.
Affiliations: University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA
University of Pittsburgh (US)
ORCID: Mazefsky, Carla A
Eack, Shaun M
Venue: Autism
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2017-06-30
Volume: 22
Issue: 6
Pages: 703-711
ISSN: 1362-3613 (ISSN-L)
1461-7005
DOI: 10.1177/1362361317703090
PMC: PMC5711618
OpenAlex: W2733243365
Cited by: 142
References: 57
Citations by year: 2026: 15 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 2
FWCI: 3.92
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Licence: www.sagepub.com/licence-information-for-chorus (vor, 365 d)
Locations: Autism (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders: National Institutes of Health (MH-85851, U54HD090256, T32HD007489, MH-95783)
Pennsylvania Department of Health
U.S. Department of Defense (AR10034)
Autism Speaks (5703, 8568)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, social support, perceived stress, quality of life, autistic adults, intellectual disability, stress buffering, interpersonal relationships, stress management skills
MeSH terms: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Quality of Life, Social Support, Stress, Psychological, Linear Models, Case-Control Studies, Young Adult

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

The combined impact of social support and perceived stress on quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorder and without intellectual disability

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Self-check

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks