Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder on a College Campus: Comorbidity, Use of Services, and Intent to Seek Help for Distress

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) represents a growing public health challenge (Maenner et al., 2020). ASD is known to co-occur with a variety of mental health problems (Levy & Perry, 2011), including mental disorders such as depression (Sterling, Dawson, Estes, & Greenson, 2008) and anxiety (Lugnegård, Hallerbäck, & Gillberg, 2011). Despite this, no studies have been identified that examined the co-occurrence of mental health problems among individuals with ASD who are pursuing post-secondary education. Only one study could be identified that assessed the prevalence of ASD on college campuses (White, Ollendick, & Bray, 2011). Additionally, there has only been limited research on how individuals with mental disorders seek out mental health services (Lipson, Lattie, & Eisenberg, 2019; Rickwood, Deane, Wilson, & Ciarrochi, 2005) and this research was not extended to students with developmental disorders such as ASD. We also know that emotional intelligence may have an effect on help seeking behaviors (Ciarrochi, Deane, Wilson, & Rickwood, 2002; Ciarrochi, Wilson, Deane, & Rickwood, 2003; Ciarrochi & Deane, 2001), but this has not been well examined in the context of previously diagnosed mental disorders. These gaps in our knowledge are important given that approximately 86% of youth with ASD intend to pursue some form of higher education and 60% of these youth intend to graduate from a baccalaureate degree granting institution (Wagner, Newman, Cameto, Levine, & Marder, 2007). Using two cross-sectional surveys, this dissertation project investigates the mental health status and mental health service utilization among university students with ASD and other mental disorders. The first paper describes the occurrence of ASD at the University of Arizona in comparison to nation-wide prevalence estimates and examines the co-occurrence of other mental disorders with ASD. The second paper describes the intention to use and use of professional mental health services to address mental health problems among students with ASD compared to students with other diagnosed mental disorders and students with no history of mental disorders. The third paper examines the role of emotional intelligence in the intention to seek out mental health services if faced with a mental health problem. The combined results of this dissertation provide insights on the mental health needs of students with ASD and identify future research needed on individuals with ASD who pursue higher education.