Positive Well-Being Benefits Those with Autism

According to a new study that monitored the mental health of 36 employed adults with the autism spectrum disorder, those with a greater sense of happiness and life satisfaction were less likely to develop depressive symptoms over the following year. Lead author Dr. Darren Hedley adds, “While previous research has tended to focus on the negative aspects of mental health such as depression and anxiety, in this study we felt it was also important to focus on positive well-being—a construct often overlooked in autism research in adulthood. There needs to be more mental health research involving adults with autism, and it is particularly important to understand what predicts good mental health and better outcomes overall.” Autism Research, January 2019