30928
Happiness and Wellbeing of Autistic Young Adults and Their Families: Evidence from a Population-Based Twin Sample
There is evidence that suggests those diagnosed with ASD in childhood have poor outcomes in young adulthood. One area which has received little attention is the happiness and wellbeing of emerging adults with ASD as a subjective measure of adult outcome. Given previous research has identified many young adults with ASD continue to reside with, or receive support from, family, happiness and wellbeing among family may also be important to consider.
Objectives:
This study used data from a population-based twin sample covering the whole autism spectrum. Objectives were to examine parent and twin wellbeing and happiness in families with and without a young person with ASD.
Methods:
Parental and self-report data were collected for young adults with ASD, their non-affected co-twins and a non-ASD comparison group. Parent and self-reports were independent i.e. parent reports were not always accompanied by twin self-reports and vice versa. A wide range of issues were explored by participant questionnaires including mental health, wellbeing and young adult outcomes.
Twins and parents self-reported their own levels of happiness/wellbeing on the 4-item Subjective Happiness Scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999), Life Satisfaction Scale (Diener et al., 1985), and Life Orientation Test (tapping optimism; Scheier, Carver & Bridges 1994). The twins self-reported self-esteem was also assessed (Rosenberg, 1965). Self-report data was available for 45 young adults with a research diagnosis of ASD (78% male; mean age 18 years 11 months), 24 non-ASD co-twins (33% male; mean age 18 years 11 months) and 50 comparison twins (68% male; mean age 18 years 8 months). A total of 77 parent self-reports were available, 43 from families where one or both twins met criteria for ASD and 28 from comparison families.
Results:
Parents with one or both twins on the autism spectrum had lower levels of subjective happiness (t= -2.32, 69, p<.05), life satisfaction (t= -4.21, 69, p<.001) and optimism (t= -3.08, 69, p<.01) than parents of comparison twins. From twin self-reports it was shown that there were significant differences between groups (ASD, co-twins and comparison) in levels of subjective happiness (F=6.43, 2, p<.01), life satisfaction (F=12.55, 2, p<.001), optimism (F= 4.48, 2, p<.05) and self-esteem (F=16.96, 2, p<.001). Average ratings of subjective happiness and optimism were significantly lower in the ASD group than the comparison group, with the co-twin group showing intermediate levels between the two. However, with regards to life satisfaction and self-esteem ASD and co-twins both reported significantly lower levels than the comparison group.
Conclusions:
ASD twins, their parents and co-twins were less happy, had lower life satisfaction and optimism, and ASD twins and co-twins had lower self-esteem, than the comparison group. This indicates that family wide wellbeing and happiness could be impacted when one or more family members have ASD. Even into young adulthood this suggests that services and support targeting the whole family unit of affected individuals may be necessary.