Academic Research: Peer Relationships and Social and Recreational Activities among Adolescents and Adults with Autism

Orsmond, G.I., Krauss, M.W., Seltzer, M.M. (2004). Peer relationships and social and recreational activities among adolescents and adults with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 34 (3), pp. 245-256.

The authors investigated the relationships and social participation of 235 adolescents and adults with autism who live at home and found that the prevalence of friendships and relationships was consistently low for all of the people studied. However, the existence of peer relationships and social participation appeared related to individual characteristics (i.e. being younger, having less impairment in social interaction skills, having greater functional independence). Environmental characteristics (i.e. participation of mothers, number of services received, inclusion in integrated settings while in school) appeared to have less of an impact on having or not having relationships or social participation.

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