ERIC Number: EJ1422543
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Mar
Pages: 36
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2195-7177
EISSN: EISSN-2195-7185
Loneliness in Autism and Its Association with Anxiety and Depression: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses
Rebecca Hymas; Johanna C. Badcock; Elizabeth Milne
Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v11 n1 p121-156 2024
Objectives: This systematic review aimed to quantify differences in loneliness levels between autistic and neurotypical samples and investigate the association between loneliness and mental health in autistic individuals. Methods: Three meta-analyses were conducted. Studies were methodologically appraised using established tools. Results: Overall, 39 studies were included. The majority of these achieved moderate methodological quality ratings. The primary meta-analysis (N = 23) found autistic samples reported higher loneliness compared with neurotypical samples (Hedges' g = 0.89). The meta-analyses on the associations between loneliness and anxiety (N = 14) and depression (N = 11) in autistic samples found significant pooled correlations (r = 0.29 and r = 0.48, respectively). Conclusions: This review highlights numerous limitations within current autism and loneliness research. Nevertheless, loneliness in autism merits targeted clinical and research attention.
Descriptors: Psychological Patterns, Correlation, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Comparative Analysis, Depression (Psychology), Mental Health, Meta Analysis
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2123/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A