TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of early stages of COVID-19 on the mental health of autistic adults in the United Kingdom:
T2 - A longitudinal mixed-methods study
AU - Bundy, Rebecca
AU - Mandy, Will
AU - Crane, Laura
AU - Belcher, Hannah
AU - Bourne, Laura
AU - Brede, Janina
AU - Hull, Laura
AU - Brinkert, Jana
AU - Cook, Julia
PY - 2022/10
Y1 - 2022/10
N2 - We used mixed methods to learn about the nature and drivers of mental health changes among autistic adults in the United Kingdom during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In quantitative analyses, we examined the nature and predictors of change in depression, anxiety and stress, prospectively measured in 70 autistic adults at Wave 1 (just before the United Kingdom’s first lockdown) and Wave 2 (10–15 weeks into the United Kingdom’s first lockdown). Retrospective Wave 2 reports of mental health change were also analysed for these 70 participants. For the qualitative analysis, 133 participants (including the 70 from the quantitative analyses) provided reports on their experiences of the pandemic at Wave 2. In quantitative analyses, retrospective reports indicated that participants’ mental health worsened, but prospective data showed a different picture, with overall anxiety and stress scores reducing between Waves 1 and 2. Nevertheless, the mental health impact of the pandemic on autistic adults was variable, with a sizable minority reporting a significant decline in mental health. Qualitative analysis yielded four themes that contributed to mental health changes: (a) adjusting to changes to the social world, (b) living with uncertainty, (c) disruptions to self-regulation, and (d) barriers to fulfilling basic needs.
AB - We used mixed methods to learn about the nature and drivers of mental health changes among autistic adults in the United Kingdom during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In quantitative analyses, we examined the nature and predictors of change in depression, anxiety and stress, prospectively measured in 70 autistic adults at Wave 1 (just before the United Kingdom’s first lockdown) and Wave 2 (10–15 weeks into the United Kingdom’s first lockdown). Retrospective Wave 2 reports of mental health change were also analysed for these 70 participants. For the qualitative analysis, 133 participants (including the 70 from the quantitative analyses) provided reports on their experiences of the pandemic at Wave 2. In quantitative analyses, retrospective reports indicated that participants’ mental health worsened, but prospective data showed a different picture, with overall anxiety and stress scores reducing between Waves 1 and 2. Nevertheless, the mental health impact of the pandemic on autistic adults was variable, with a sizable minority reporting a significant decline in mental health. Qualitative analysis yielded four themes that contributed to mental health changes: (a) adjusting to changes to the social world, (b) living with uncertainty, (c) disruptions to self-regulation, and (d) barriers to fulfilling basic needs.
KW - adults
KW - anxiety
KW - autism spectrum disorders
KW - COVID-19
KW - depression
KW - health services
KW - mental health
KW - qualitative research
UR - http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/35083922
U2 - 10.1177/13623613211065543
DO - 10.1177/13623613211065543
M3 - Article
C2 - 35083922
SN - 1362-3613
VL - 26
SP - 1765
EP - 1782
JO - Autism
JF - Autism
IS - 7
ER -