| Abstract |
Background: Autistic youth experience high rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), although it is critical to extend this work by further identifying the ACEs most commonly reported by Autistic adults. We know less about rates of benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) among Autistic adults and how they are associated with ACEs and psychosocial outcomes. The current study aimed to (1) identify rates of ACEs and BCEs, (2) evaluate how they are related for Autistic and non-autistic adults, and (3) evaluate how ACEs and BCEs are associated with psychosocial outcomes (i.e., trauma symptoms, resilience, treatment utilization, vulnerable life experiences [VLE]) across Autistic and non-autistic adults.Methods: A total of 276 Autistic adults (Mage = 29 years, Mincome = 34,935 U.S. dollars, 46.4% cisgender men, 74.3% White) and 361 non-autistic adults (Mage = 45.69 years, Mincome = 56,753 U.S. dollars, 49.9% cisgender women, 66.2% White) completed an online survey. Participants provided information about demographic and treatment history characteristics (age, income, gender, race/ethnicity, treatment use), and completed checklist measures of ACEs and BCEs and self-report scales assessing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (Posttraumatic Symptom Checklist for DSM-5, PCL-5), resilience (Brief Resilience Scale), and broader trauma-related and service experiences (VLE scale).Results: Autistic adults reported more ACEs and fewer BCEs than non-autistic adults, even when accounting for demographic differences. ACEs and BCEs were weakly to moderately associated to a similar degree across groups. ACEs and BCEs differentially associated with psychosocial outcomes among Autistic and non-autistic adults. Child maltreatment ACEs related to higher PTSD symptoms, VLEs, and use of services. BCEs related to lower VLEs and use of services.Conclusion: Autistic adults differentially experience ACEs and BCEs, and trauma-focused supports should seek to facilitate and improve positive experiences among Autistic youth. Future research should identify potential protective factors for Autistic individuals.AbstractCommunity BriefWhy is this an important issue?Autistic people experience more stressful experiences, such as adverse childhood experiences, than non-autistic people. Less information is known about positive childhood experiences among Autistic adults and how they relate to mental health and life experiences.What was the purpose of the study?This study aimed to identify rates of stressful and positive experiences and examine how they are related for Autistic and non-autistic adults. This study also examined how stressful and positive experiences relate to mental health (trauma symptoms, resilience) and life experiences (using mental health care, negative life experiences).What did the researchers do?Researchers collected data from an online survey platform. A total of 276 Autistic and 361 non-autistic adults gave information about their demographic backgrounds, mental health care backgrounds, stressful and positive experiences from childhood, mental health (trauma symptoms, resilience), and other negative life experiences (such as encounters with police or emergency room visits).What were the results of the study?Autistic adults experienced more stressful events (e.g., emotional abuse, suicide in the home, emotional neglect, parent divorce, substance use in the home) and fewer positive events (e.g., liking themselves, liking school, having one supportive adult, having good neighbors, having beliefs that give comfort) during childhood than non-autistic adults. Stressful and positive events were weakly to moderately related, which may mean that experiencing lots of stressful childhood events does not mean an individual only experiences few positive experiences (i.e., a person can experience lots of stressful and positive experiences, or few positive and stressful experiences). Experiencing stressful events was related to more trauma symptoms, more negative life experiences, and more use of mental health care. Positive events were related to fewer negative life experiences and less use of mental health care, including less use of mental health therapy for trauma among non-autistic adults, but not Autistic adults. This means that Autistic adults may need more supports for trauma and stress, even when they have experienced positive childhood events.What do these findings add to what was already known?These findings support that Autistic adults experience more stressful and fewer positive experiences in childhood than non-autistic adults. Both stressful and positive childhood experiences relate to mental health and other life experiences.What are potential weaknesses in the study?This study used a short measure of stressful experiences, which did not ask about broader types of stress such as racial or community stressors, nor autism-specific stressors such as sensory trauma. The measure of positive childhood experiences also has not been used before with Autistic people, so it may not include a wide enough range of positive experiences that Autistic people experience.How will these findings help Autistic adults now or in the future?These results emphasize the need for more support in creating positive childhood experiences for Autistic adults and helping Autistic adults heal from stressful or traumatic childhood experiences. |
, Christina G. McDonnell 
