Predictors for Work Participation in Individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Abstract

These findings emphasize the need for more high quality cohort studies focussing on work participation as the main outcome among people with Autism.

Predictors of employment status among adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…In a systematic literature review examining the predictors of work participation in individuals with ASD, Holwerda et al [19] found limited cognitive ability to be the only significant predictor to hinder employment across fifteen studies. Although the findings were mixed, eight other factors were found to hinder employment in several studies: (1) severity of the disorder, (2) comorbidity with psychiatric disorders, oppositional personality or epilepsy, (3) gender with females being more likely to have poor outcomes in two out of three studies, (4) lower speech and language abilities, (5) the presence of maladaptive behaviors, (6) the presence of social impairments and lack of empathy, (7) lack of drive, and (8) prior institutionalization (i.e., hospitalization) [19].…”

Trends in Employment for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Review of the Research Literature

“…The relationship between educational level and employment for people with ASD is ambiguous at best (Holwerda et al 2012). Lotter (1974) reported that less than 7 years of education usually led to poor employment outcomes.…”

Work-ability assessment in young adults with disabilities applying for disability benefits

“…It can be argued that these factors should be incorporated in work-ability assessment more often, while it is known from literature that these factors influence work outcome among young people with disabilities. Several authors mentioned that learning problems are regularly occurring in individuals with developmental disabilities and mental retardation [15,30,31]. Adolescents with mental disorders and developmental disabilities are attributed a higher risk of emotional and behavioral problems [32][33][34] and substance abuse [35,36] compared with their healthy peers.…”

“…The model stipulates that functioning, in our terms work-ability, encompasses mutually related components: disease and disorder, functions and structures, activities, participation, and personal and environmental factors. In recent systematic reviews on factors influencing work participation of young disabled people [14][15][16] several determinants from different components of the ICF model were found to influence work outcome. As health related factors severity of condition, co-morbidity, chronic health conditions combined with mental retardation and inpatient treatment were found.…”