Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in Autistic and Non-autistic College Students: A Brief Report

As more autistic individuals transition into young adulthood, it is crucial to explore factors relevant to success in this period of life, including success in post-secondary education. Mental health challenges have been identified as a significant concern in post-secondary education; however, the majority of research only includes non-autistic students.

The current study utilized data from the 2021 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) to compare rates of anxiety and depression, as well as gender differences, in autistic and non-autistic students. The sample included 1399 autistic and 146,220 non-autistic students from 342 universities in the US and Canada.

Autistic students reported significantly higher rates of anxiety (64.5%), and depression (48.2%) compared to their non-autistic peers (9.4% and 7.6%, respectively). Female students reported elevated rates of depression and anxiety compared to male students in both the autistic and non-autistic samples.

These findings highlight the elevated mental health challenges faced by autistic students and underscore the need for increased research and support in post-secondary settings. Future research on risk factors for mental health challenges of autistic post-secondary students might elucidate opportunities and timing for support and screening.