Predictors for Work Participation in Individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review

Overview

Journal J Occup Rehabil

Publisher Springer

Specialties Occupational Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2012 Jan 25

PMID 22270229

Citations 27

Authors

Anja Holwerda

Jac J L van der Klink

Johan W Groothoff

Sandra Brouwer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Research shows that only about 25% of people with autism are employed.

Method: We conducted a systematic review on factors facilitating or hindering work participation of people with autism in longitudinal studies. An extensive search in biomedical and psychological databases yielded 204 articles and 18 satisfied all inclusion criteria. We assessed the methodological quality of included studies using an established criteria list.

Results: Seventeen factors were identified and categorized as disease-related factors, personal factors or external factors. Limited cognitive ability was the only significant predictor consistently found for work outcome. Functional independence and institutionalization were both reported by one study to be significantly related to work outcome. Inconsistent findings or non significant findings were reported for the other fourteen factors.

Conclusion: These findings emphasize the need for more high quality cohort studies focussing on work participation as the main outcome among people with Autism.

Citing Articles

Toward workforce integration: enhancements in adaptive behaviors and social communication skills among autistic young adults following vocational training course.

Lousky Y, Selanikyo E, Tubul-Lavy G, Ben-Itzchak E Front Psychol. 2024; 15:1392672.

PMID: 39723396 PMC: 11668975. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1392672.

Influence of parental education on the intelligence quotient profiles and socially adaptive behavior of school-age children with autism spectrum disorder in eastern China.

Li W, Song C, Hu L, Wu L, Zhu Z J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2024; 25(11):1009-1019.

PMID: 39626882 PMC: 11634450. DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B2300354.

Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Autistic Young Adults Participating in Employment Readiness Skills Training.

Sung C, Okyere C, Connor A, Chen J J Autism Dev Disord. 2024; .

PMID: 39292345 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06527-8.

Academic learning challenges and links to vocational outcomes in young autistic adults.

Grosman H, Aragon-Guevara D, McQuaid G, Wallace G, Lee N Autism. 2024; 28(12):3143-3155.

PMID: 38864310 PMC: 11576238. DOI: 10.1177/13623613241255774.

"Maybe No One Knows We Need Help": Understanding the Experiences of Autistic Working Mothers in Australia.

Gore K, Hayward S, Flower R, Gilbert M, Barbaro J Autism Adulthood. 2024; 6(1):47-59.

PMID: 38435329 PMC: 10902281. DOI: 10.1089/aut.2022.0089.

References

Lawer L, Brusilovskiy E, Salzer M, Mandell D . Use of vocational rehabilitative services among adults with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2008; 39(3):487-94. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-008-0649-4. View

Rutter M . Autistic children: infancy to adulthood. Semin Psychiatry. 1970; 2(4):435-50. View

Scholten-Peeters G, Verhagen A, Bekkering G, van der Windt D, Barnsley L, Oostendorp R . Prognostic factors of whiplash-associated disorders: a systematic review of prospective cohort studies. Pain. 2003; 104(1-2):303-22. DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3959(03)00050-2. View

Cederlund M, Hagberg B, Billstedt E, Gillberg I, Gillberg C . Asperger syndrome and autism: a comparative longitudinal follow-up study more than 5 years after original diagnosis. J Autism Dev Disord. 2007; 38(1):72-85. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-007-0364-6. View

Avchen R, Wiggins L, Devine O, Braun K, Rice C, Hobson N . Evaluation of a records-review surveillance system used to determine the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2010; 41(2):227-36. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-010-1050-7. View

Ustun T, Chatterji S, Bickenbach J, Kostanjsek N, Schneider M . The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: a new tool for understanding disability and health. Disabil Rehabil. 2003; 25(11-12):565-71. DOI: 10.1080/0963828031000137063. View

Cornelius L, van der Klink J, Groothoff J, Brouwer S . Prognostic factors of long term disability due to mental disorders: a systematic review. J Occup Rehabil. 2010; 21(2):259-74. PMC: 3098343. DOI: 10.1007/s10926-010-9261-5. View

Hume K, Loftin R, Lantz J . Increasing independence in autism spectrum disorders: a review of three focused interventions. J Autism Dev Disord. 2009; 39(9):1329-38. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-009-0751-2. View

Billstedt E, Gillberg I, Gillberg C . Aspects of quality of life in adults diagnosed with autism in childhood: a population-based study. Autism. 2010; 15(1):7-20. DOI: 10.1177/1362361309346066. View

10.

Kogan M, Blumberg S, Schieve L, Boyle C, Perrin J, Ghandour R . Prevalence of parent-reported diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder among children in the US, 2007. Pediatrics. 2009; 124(5):1395-403. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2009-1522. View

11.

Lotter V . Social adjustment and placement of autistic children in Middlesex: a follow-up study. J Autism Child Schizophr. 1974; 4(1):11-32. DOI: 10.1007/BF02104997. View

12.

Rumsey J, Rapoport J, Sceery W . Autistic children as adults: psychiatric, social, and behavioral outcomes. J Am Acad Child Psychiatry. 1985; 24(4):465-73. DOI: 10.1016/s0002-7138(09)60566-5. View

13.

Wolf L, Goldberg B . Autistic children grow up: an eight to twenty-four year follow-up study. Can J Psychiatry. 1986; 31(6):550-6. DOI: 10.1177/070674378603100613. View

14.

Howlin P, Goode S, Hutton J, Rutter M . Adult outcome for children with autism. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2004; 45(2):212-29. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00215.x. View

15.

McGrew J, Griss M . Concurrent and predictive validity of two scales to assess the fidelity of implementation of supported employment. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2005; 29(1):41-47. DOI: 10.2975/29.2005.41.47. View

16.

Waddell G, Burton K, Aylward M . Work and common health problems. J Insur Med. 2007; 39(2):109-20. View

17.

Altman D . Systematic reviews of evaluations of prognostic variables. BMJ. 2001; 323(7306):224-8. PMC: 1120839. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.323.7306.224. View

18.

Gillberg C . Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism. Br J Psychiatry. 1998; 172:200-9. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.172.3.200. View

19.

Kirsh B, Stergiou-Kita M, Gewurtz R, Dawson D, Krupa T, Lysaght R . From margins to mainstream: what do we know about work integration for persons with brain injury, mental illness and intellectual disability?. Work. 2009; 32(4):391-405. DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2009-0851. View

20.

Achterberg T, Wind H, de Boer A, Frings-Dresen M . Factors that promote or hinder young disabled people in work participation: a systematic review. J Occup Rehabil. 2009; 19(2):129-41. DOI: 10.1007/s10926-009-9169-0. View