The importance of home: Satisfaction with accommodation, neighborhood, and life in adults with autism.

A study of 1,429 autistic adults found that 79% lived independently. Women, older adults, and those with higher IQs were more likely to live on their own. Autistic adults were just as happy with their homes and neighborhoods as other adults, but were less satisfied with life overall. Good housing and neighborhoods were linked to better life satisfaction for everyone.

This large-scale survey study (n=1,429) examined housing outcomes in autistic adults with mostly average or above-average intellectual abilities across ages 17-84 years. Nearly 80% lived independently, with older age, female gender, and higher IQ predicting independent living. When compared to a Dutch community sample (n=929), independently living autistic adults showed equal satisfaction with accommodation and neighborhood but significantly lower general life satisfaction. Both groups demonstrated positive associations between housing/neighborhood satisfaction and overall life satisfaction, highlighting the importance of quality housing for wellbeing in autistic adults.

Results suggest many autistic adults can achieve independent living with appropriate support. Housing satisfaction appears comparable to general population, indicating focus should be on other factors affecting life satisfaction. Targeted support may be needed for younger adults, males, and those with lower intellectual abilities.

Study relied on self-report measures and online survey methodology. Sample was limited to those with mostly average or above-average intellectual abilities, limiting generalizability to the broader autism population. Cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences.

Although good quality housing and a socially cohesive neighborhood are associated with a higher well-being in the general population, housing is a rarely studied topic in autism research. In the present study, we describe the housing situation of a large sample of adults with autism and mostly (above) average intellectual abilities (n = 1429; 17 to 84 years), and examine predictors of independent living, accommodation satisfaction, neighborhood satisfaction, and satisfaction with life based on an online survey. The outcomes of independently living adults were compared with those from a Dutch community sample (n = 929). Nearly 80% of the autistic adults lived independently.

Older participants, women, and those with higher self-reported IQ's were more likely to live independently. Autistic adults living independently were equally satisfied with their accommodation and neighborhood as the comparison group, but were less satisfied with their life in general. In both groups, higher satisfaction with accommodation and neighborhood was associated with higher life satisfaction. We advocate further research to better understand and anticipate the housing needs of the growing group of adults with autism.

LAY SUMMARY: The living situation of autistic adults has rarely been studied. We found that 79% of autistic adults with mostly (above) average intellectual abilities lived independently. Women, older adults, and those with higher IQ's were more likely to live independently. They were equally pleased with their house and neighborhood as adults from a Dutch community sample, but autistic adults were less satisfied with their life in general.