Solitude, connection with society, low quality of life in relation to autism spectrum disorder

Social communication and interaction deficits are characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, no study reported the association between living alone and quality of life (QOL) in participants with ASD.

To evaluate the association among solitude, connection with society, low quality of life, and ASD.

We conducted a web survey-based cross-sectional study of 3,865 Japanese participants with ASD living alone and may not view a connection to society as important. Participants were asked to choose three answers from 13 items for the question, 'What do you think is the most important matter to elevate your quality of life (QOL)?' If participants answered 'connection with society', we defined it as 'thinking connection with society is important'.

Living alone was inversely connected with the Life Satisfaction Scale scores for participants with and without ASD. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of living alone on the life satisfaction scale (one standard deviation) for those without and with ASD were 0.78 (0.72, 0.85) and 0.74 (0.58, 0.95), respectively. However, the association between living alone and 'thinking connection with society is important' is positive for those without ASD but inverse for those with ASD. The adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for patients without and with ASD were 1.25 (1.03, 1.53) and 0.28 (0.11, 0.70), respectively.

Living alone might strengthen the 'thinking connection with society is important' for participants without ASD but weaken it for those with ASD.