University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, UK.
NHS Highland, UK.
Autism. 2023 Apr;27(3):667-678. doi: 10.1177/13623613221111313. Epub 2022 Jul 27.
Autistic young people experience higher levels of anxiety than neurotypical young people. Having worries is part of feeling anxious. This makes it surprising that very little research has looked at the kind of worries autistic young people have. Leaving school, in particular, can be a worrying time for young people. Twenty-two autistic young people and 22 neurotypical young people who were at mainstream secondary schools agreed to take part in the study. They were between 16 and 18 years of age. They were asked to sort through a series of pictures, showing the different types of worries that young people might experience. They were then asked to pick out their four main worries and say how much they thought about each worry and how upset the worry made them. They also completed a questionnaire about their level of anxiety. There were similarities and differences between the autistic and neurotypical young people's worries. Both groups worried about failing and how they might get on in further education. The autistic young people were more worried about change and friendships. Work and money were particular concerns for the neurotypical young people. The autistic young people said that they found their worries more upsetting than the neurotypical young people. Having a better understanding of autistic young people's worries at important points in their lives might mean that more timely help and support can be given to them. Simply knowing what to ask young autistic school leavers about may help them to express unspoken concerns.
自闭症青少年比神经典型青少年经历更高水平的焦虑。有担忧是感到焦虑的一部分。令人惊讶的是，很少有研究关注自闭症青少年的担忧类型。离开学校，尤其是对于年轻人来说，可能是一个令人担忧的时期。22 名自闭症青少年和 22 名在主流中学的神经典型青少年同意参与这项研究。他们的年龄在 16 到 18 岁之间。他们被要求浏览一系列图片，展示年轻人可能经历的不同类型的担忧。然后，他们被要求挑选出他们的四个主要担忧，并说出他们对每个担忧的思考程度以及担忧使他们感到多么不安。他们还完成了一份关于他们焦虑程度的问卷。自闭症和神经典型青少年的担忧既有相似之处，也有不同之处。这两个群体都担心失败和他们可能在继续教育中取得的成绩。自闭症青少年更担心变化和友谊。对神经典型青少年来说，工作和金钱是特别关注的问题。自闭症青少年表示，他们发现自己的担忧比神经典型青少年更令人不安。在他们生命中的重要时刻，更好地了解自闭症青少年的担忧可能意味着可以及时为他们提供帮助和支持。仅仅知道向年轻的自闭症离校生询问什么，可能有助于他们表达未说出口的担忧。
