View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Social Network Types in Autistic Adults and Its Associations with Mastery, Quality of Life, and Autism Characteristics.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Social Network Types in Autistic Adults and Its Associations with Mastery, Quality of Life, and Autism Characteristics.
Authors: van den Heuvel, Rinske M. (AUTHOR), Teunisse, Jan-Pieter (AUTHOR), Radhoe, Tulsi A. (AUTHOR), van der Putten, Wikke J. (AUTHOR), Torenvliet, Carolien (AUTHOR), Wen, Si (AUTHOR), Wensing, Michel (AUTHOR), Geurts, Hilde M. (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. Jun2026, Vol. 56 Issue 6, p2408-2419. 12p.
Subjects: Sexual partners, Research funding, Autism, Questionnaires, Symptoms, Descriptive statistics, Chi-squared test, Multivariate analysis, Social networks, Quality of life, Cluster sampling, Research, One-way analysis of variance, Analysis of variance, Asperger's syndrome, Social support, Data analysis software, Adults
Abstract: Research shows heterogeneity in experiences of social contact and social networks in autistic adults. In this study, we aim to identify clusters of social support networks and investigate associations of clusters with mastery, quality of life, and autism characteristics. Autistic adults (N = 381; 45.7% female) aged between 30 and 90 years completed questionnaires on social support characteristics, mastery, autism characteristics, and quality of life. A two-step cluster analysis was used to identify clusters based on social support network items. The cluster analysis revealed three clusters: Cluster 1 (n = 238) with two or more close persons, sometimes including a romantic partner; Cluster 2 (n = 102) with solely a romantic partner as close person; and Cluster 3 (n = 41) without any close persons. Level of emotional support was the most important clustering indicator. People in Cluster 3 reported lower quality of life regarding social relationships and mastery, autism characteristics, and other quality of life scales were similar across clusters. Absence or presence of close persons significantly impacts quality of life regarding social relationships in autistic adults, which highlights the importance of addressing (satisfaction with) social support. In order to enhance quality of life, offering social network interventions to increase social support seems especially relevant for autistic people belonging to Cluster 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 194161944
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Social Network Types in Autistic Adults and Its Associations with Mastery, Quality of Life, and Autism Characteristics.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22van+den+Heuvel%2C+Rinske+M%2E%22">van den Heuvel, Rinske M.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Teunisse%2C+Jan-Pieter%22">Teunisse, Jan-Pieter</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Radhoe%2C+Tulsi+A%2E%22">Radhoe, Tulsi A.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22van+der+Putten%2C+Wikke+J%2E%22">van der Putten, Wikke J.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Torenvliet%2C+Carolien%22">Torenvliet, Carolien</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wen%2C+Si%22">Wen, Si</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wensing%2C+Michel%22">Wensing, Michel</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Geurts%2C+Hilde+M%2E%22">Geurts, Hilde M.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Autism+%26+Developmental+Disorders%22">Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 56 Issue 6, p2408-2419. 12p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexual+partners%22">Sexual partners</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autism%22">Autism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Questionnaires%22">Questionnaires</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Symptoms%22">Symptoms</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chi-squared+test%22">Chi-squared test</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multivariate+analysis%22">Multivariate analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+networks%22">Social networks</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Quality+of+life%22">Quality of life</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cluster+sampling%22">Cluster sampling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research%22">Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22One-way+analysis+of+variance%22">One-way analysis of variance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Analysis+of+variance%22">Analysis of variance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Asperger's+syndrome%22">Asperger's syndrome</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adults%22">Adults</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Research shows heterogeneity in experiences of social contact and social networks in autistic adults. In this study, we aim to identify clusters of social support networks and investigate associations of clusters with mastery, quality of life, and autism characteristics. Autistic adults (N = 381; 45.7% female) aged between 30 and 90 years completed questionnaires on social support characteristics, mastery, autism characteristics, and quality of life. A two-step cluster analysis was used to identify clusters based on social support network items. The cluster analysis revealed three clusters: Cluster 1 (n = 238) with two or more close persons, sometimes including a romantic partner; Cluster 2 (n = 102) with solely a romantic partner as close person; and Cluster 3 (n = 41) without any close persons. Level of emotional support was the most important clustering indicator. People in Cluster 3 reported lower quality of life regarding social relationships and mastery, autism characteristics, and other quality of life scales were similar across clusters. Absence or presence of close persons significantly impacts quality of life regarding social relationships in autistic adults, which highlights the importance of addressing (satisfaction with) social support. In order to enhance quality of life, offering social network interventions to increase social support seems especially relevant for autistic people belonging to Cluster 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194161944
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10803-025-06722-1
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 2408
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Sexual partners
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Symptoms
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chi-squared test
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Multivariate analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social networks
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Quality of life
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cluster sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: One-way analysis of variance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Analysis of variance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Asperger's syndrome
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adults
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Social Network Types in Autistic Adults and Its Associations with Mastery, Quality of Life, and Autism Characteristics.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: van den Heuvel, Rinske M.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Teunisse, Jan-Pieter
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Radhoe, Tulsi A.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: van der Putten, Wikke J.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Torenvliet, Carolien
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wen, Si
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wensing, Michel
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Geurts, Hilde M.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 01623257
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 56
            – Type: issue
              Value: 6
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders
              Type: main
ResultId 1