Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic adults

Man met laptop - Research at Ghent University shows that COVID-19 pandemic affects mental health and daily lives of autistic adults. Research group EXPLORA (Ghent University) has set up an online survey to investigate the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and daily lives of adults on the autism spectrum. The preliminary results highlight the burden of the pandemic on the mental health and daily life of autistic adults. Furthermore, the results also give insight into how autistic adults can be supported. Mental health impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Across the two groups (autistic and non-autistic or 'neurotypical'), approximately three-quarters reported an increase in depression and anxiety symptoms in response to the pandemic. Furthermore, autistic adults reported a greater increase in both anxiety and depression symptoms than neurotypical adults.