A new study by Binghamton University researchers uncovers significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression in autistic college students, emphasizing the pressing need for enhanced mental health support within higher education.
Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York, have identified significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression among autistic college students compared to their non-autistic peers, according to a new study. This alarming discovery raises critical questions about the mental health support structures currently in place for this vulnerable student population.
The study, which reviewed data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) encompassing 342 universities and 149,783 undergraduate students, is the first of its kind to provide substantial evidence on the mental health disparities faced by autistic students in college.
The survey included self-reported data on autism and diagnoses of anxiety or depression, giving researchers a comprehensive view of the mental health landscape.
“What we found is really staggering — autistic individuals endorse much higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to their non-autistic peers,” lead author Diego Aragon-Guevara, a doctoral student in psychology at Binghamton University, said in a news release.
Historically, the autistic college student demographic has been underrepresented and under-researched. The inclusion of autism as an endorsable category in the 2021 NSSE marks a significant step towards more inclusive and comprehensive research.
“We wanted to sort of fill that gap in the research and find out how they are doing,” Aragon-Guevara added. “What are some challenges that they’re having, specifically around mental health, since mental health in college is really such an important topic.”
Co-author Jennifer Gillis Mattson, a professor of psychology and co-director of the Institute for Child Development at Binghamton University, expressed enthusiasm about the new opportunities for research this data provides.
“We were really excited to see what the data would tell us. It was a big opportunity to be able to do this,” she said in the news release.
The study’s findings, published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, underscore the urgent need for tailored mental health support for autistic students, who often face unique challenges in the higher education environment.
Commonly, support personnel might focus solely on autism, overlooking co-occurring mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
“We’re shedding some light on the fact that if you have autistic college students in your college population — and we know the number of autistic college students continues to increase every single year — then we really do have an obligation to support these students,” Gillis Mattson added. “And to know how best to support these students and we need to look beyond just autism, if you will. That there are these other mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, where people need to be able to acknowledge and understand that additional supports may be needed.”
This study is a crucial first step, confirming the necessity of addressing mental health issues among autistic college students.
Moving forward, the researchers aim to delve deeper into the specific factors influencing these mental health challenges, such as social dynamics, faculty support and accessibility.
“There are so many elements that go into being comfortable in the new environment that is college,” added Aragon-Guevara. “We want to look into that and see if there are any deficits in those areas that autistic college students are experiencing, so that we know where we can help support them, or create institutional things to help improve quality of life as a whole.”
Co-author Hyejung Kim, an assistant professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership, pointed out the need for further exploration.
“This population often skews male, and interactions between personal factors and conditions such as anxiety and depression may shape overall well-being in college, an area that warrants further study,” she explained. “Autistic students are also more likely to pursue STEM fields, and many report different experiences with faculty and staff across institutional settings. We still have much to learn about how these and other contextual factors relate to mental well-being.”
The researchers plan on partnering with campus groups to explore these factors and develop targeted resources to help autistic students succeed.
Source: Binghamton University