A recent study led by Carly Moser, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of Julie Lounds Taylor, Ph.D., and additional colleagues at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides new insights into life satisfaction among autistic youth. Published in the journal Autism, the study is one of the first to directly compare self-reported life satisfaction in autistic youth with and without co-occurring intellectual disability (ID), and to examine key correlates of satisfaction that help guide the choice of supports during the transition to adulthood.
The study included a sample of 134 autistic youth (ages 16–26), who were able to self-report. Of those participants, 35 had a co-occurring ID. Using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) alongside additional measures of self-determination, social participation, parental stress, and unmet service needs, the research sought to compare life satisfaction levels across groups and identify unique correlates of life satisfaction for each subgroup.
Carly Moser, Ph.D.
“We found no significant differences in mean levels of self-reported life satisfaction between autistic youth with and without ID,” said Moser. “In fact, there was a trend toward slightly higher life satisfaction among those with ID, though this did not reach statistical significance. Approximately 65% of autistic youth with ID and 50% without ID reported being “satisfied” or “extremely satisfied” with their lives.”
Moser also reported that for autistic youth without ID, higher life satisfaction was significantly associated with greater self-determination. For autistic youth with ID, more frequent social participation, lower parental stress, and fewer unmet service needs were significant predictors of higher life satisfaction.
“The strength of the associations between life satisfaction and both parent stress and unmet service needs was significantly greater for autistic youth with ID than those without,” said Moser. “This suggests that formal and informal support systems may be particularly salient for the well-being of this subgroup.”
These findings underscore the need for a differentiated approach to supporting the well-being of autistic youth, one that is responsive to variations in cognitive and adaptive functioning. While promoting self-determination may be a critical avenue for enhancing well-being among those without ID, bolstering service access and reducing parental stress may have a greater immediate impact for youth with ID.
The study also demonstrates the feasibility and value of obtaining self-reported data from autistic individuals with ID—challenging the notion that this group must rely exclusively on proxy reporting. The SWLS showed acceptable internal consistency among respondents with ID, highlighting its potential utility in future research involving this population.
“Our study is one of the first to center the perspective of autistic youth with intellectual disability who are able to self-report,” said Moser. “That alone is a milestone. Too often, research excludes individuals with intellectual disability, leaving a gap in our understanding of what they need to thrive. By listening to their voices, we can see that well-being isn’t one-size-fits-all. What helps one young person feel fulfilled might not work for another.”
Moser, Taylor, and their colleagues say more person-centered research is needed on life satisfaction and autistic well-being. As policymakers, clinicians, and educators aim to support autistic youth in the transition to adulthood, findings highlight the necessity of tailoring interventions to individual profiles and lived experiences—particularly for those with co-occurring intellectual disability, whose voices have too often been absent from the conversation.
To learn more, visit the Transitions Lab.
*Moser, C., Smith DaWalt, L., Burke, M. M., & Taylor, J. L. (2025). Correlates of self-reported life satisfaction among autistic youth with and without intellectual disability. Autism. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251327347
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