Neglected issues encountered by autistic young adults and those with autistic traits: A scoping review

Abstract

Young adulthood presents many developmental tasks. For autistic individuals and those with many autistic traits, this transition to adulthood can be challenging. Typically, family and professional support become less available. Nevertheless, most scientific research on these individuals has focused on childhood and adolescence. A scoping review was conducted to summarize peer-reviewed research on these young adults and the problems they encounter; 510 studies focused on autism and 92 on autistic traits. This review reveals that understudied subpopulations include young adults with intellectual disabilities, women and gender minorities, and non-Western populations. Furthermore, although not all individuals face difficulties, young adults with many autism characteristics (with or without autism diagnosis) experience diverse challenges. Most studies highlighted social difficulties, emotional problems, and cognitive differences. Recommendations include conducting more qualitative research and studies that address multiple topics simultaneously, paying attention to infrequently studied areas (e.g., sleep problems, gender, and sexuality).