Brief Report: Initial Evidence of Depressive Symptom Disparities among Black and White Transition Age Autistic Youth

J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Aug;52(8):3740-3745. doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05242-y. Epub 2021 Aug 20.

Abstract

The lived experience of being autistic and being Black in America both put youth at higher risk for developing depressive symptoms. However, there is a dearth of research examining potential disparities in autistic youth with depression. The current study examined disparities in depressive symptoms among a sample of Black and White autistic youth between the ages of 16 and 26 years old. Using analysis of covariance this study found that the Black autistic youth had significantly higher depressive symptoms than White autistic youth (m = 7.3, sd = 4.4 vs. m = 3.8, sd = 3.6; t = 2.6, p = 0.013). This study presents initial evidence of a significant racial disparity between Black and White autistic youth depressive symptoms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder*
  • Autistic Disorder*
  • Black or African American
  • Depression
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Humans
  • White People