Supporting university students with autism spectrum disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Higher Education Studies
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Increasing enrollment of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in higher education presents unique challenges.
• Academic, social, and emotional hurdles can impede the success of neurodivergent students without adequate support systems.
• Effective interventions are crucial to foster a supportive university environment for students with ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a structured support group intervention for university students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
• To assess the impact of the support group on psychological outcomes, including self-esteem, loneliness, anxiety, and depression.
• To explore functional improvements in academic and social skills through qualitative analysis.

Main Methods:

• A weekly support group program with a curriculum focused on time management, stress reduction, group work, and social communication.
• Pre- and post-intervention self-report measures assessing self-esteem, loneliness, anxiety, and depression.
• Qualitative analysis of focus group discussions to identify functional changes in academic and social domains.

Main Results:

• Significant decreases in reported loneliness and general anxiety levels were observed post-intervention.
• A significant increase in self-esteem was reported by participants at the program's conclusion.
• Qualitative data revealed positive impacts on executive functioning, goal setting, academic resource utilization, stress management, and social skills.

Conclusions:

• The support group model is a cost-effective, in-house intervention that positively impacts psychological and functional outcomes for university students with ASD.
• This intervention shows potential for enhancing academic success and retention rates among neurodivergent students.
• Further research into similar support program models is recommended to optimize higher education experiences for students with autism spectrum disorder.