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Show levels of social support and loneliness. Indeed, some research shows that low quality relationships actually have a detrimental, rather than positive, effect on health outcomes (Holt-Lunstad, Birmingham, & Jones, 2008). It is possible that ASD symptoms, such as impairments in social communication or awareness, affect the quality of relationships, and this may in turn produce negative effects, loneliness, and poorer mental and physical health outcomes. More research is needed on how types of relationships (e.g., sexual, platonic or familial) are related to health outcomes for individuals with ASD. Researchers might also be interested in assessing whether or not health complaints related to loneliness are caused by lifestyle choices associated with loneliness, such as isolating oneself at home, and if so, what interventions might help alleviate loneliness or change lifestyle habits for individuals with ASD. It is also an idea to widen the scope on relationship research and ASD, and include individuals with intellectual disability or severe symptoms, in order to better serve everyone in the community. This study had several limitations. First, we recruited participants through IAN, a research database, and it is possible that individuals who participate in IAN experience both ASD and relationships differently than those who are not members because they may have more resources available and may be of a higher socioeconomic status. It is also possible that a self-selected survey such as this one cannot be generalized to the overall ASD population considering that some individuals may hesitate to answer questions of intimate and romantic nature, or be incapable of completing it by themselves in privacy. Additionally, because this data is cross-sectional, it cannot establish a causal relationship between loneliness and poorer mental and physical health outcomes. It is possible, or perhaps even likely, that loneliness and mental and physical health are bi-directionally related. For example, an individual who is depressed may leave their home less frequently and have less opportunities to meet others and develop relationships, which in turn could lead to more loneliness. Research on longitudinal relationships and health trajectories is needed to explore this possibility. To conclude, our study found that the relationship status for individuals with ASD was not a significant factor in determining their potential loneliness, as assessed by the UCLA index. However, we found that loneliness is important in the lives of adults with ASD, as there were relationships between loneliness and several metrics of physical and mental health. Future research is needed to address the quality of relationships formed among adults with ASD, how different types of relationships impact mental and physical health, and lastly, possible interventions for loneliness and associated concerns. |
