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Impact of Choice on Social Outcomes of Adults with ASD

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Abstract

This study explores social outcomes for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in comparison to adults with developmental disabilities other than ASD by investigating the relationships between the constructs Social Participation and Relationships, Social Determination, and Personal Control. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test a model of the relationships among constructs of interest and structured means analysis was used to test for mean group differences on these constructs. Results indicated that individuals with ASD had lower levels of Social Determination and Friendships than individuals with other developmental disabilities. SEM analyses yielded significant relationships between constructs. Results provide insight with regards to novel statistical, theoretical, and practical approaches to the study of social outcomes for individuals with ASD.

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Notes

  1. Statistics regarding assumption testing can be made available by the author upon request.

  2. This was a post hoc analysis conducted to address the research question with regards to group differences in social relationships between individuals with ASD and individuals with DD other than ASD. Due to the nature of the derived measurement model, this research question could not be adequately addressed without some temporary adjustment to the model to create a latent variable more directly related to social relationships than “Social Participation and Relationships”.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Robert Cudeck, Ph.D. and Rebecca Andridge Ph.D. for their consultation regarding the statistical analyses carried out in this study. Authors would also like to acknowledge Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) and the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) and thank these organizations for their contribution of the National Core Indicators (NCI) dataset to this study. This study was supported in part with funding from the U.S. Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Grant #99-DD-0621.

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  1. Nisonger Center, The Ohio State University, 279 McCambbell Hall, 1581 Dodd Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Margaret H. Mehling & Marc J. Tassé

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  1. Margaret H. Mehling
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  2. Marc J. Tassé
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Correspondence to Margaret H. Mehling.

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Mehling, M.H., Tassé, M.J. Impact of Choice on Social Outcomes of Adults with ASD. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 1588–1602 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2312-6

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