A

Autism Symptoms, Executive Functioning and Academic Progress in Higher Education Students

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol. 50, pp. 1353–1363

Abstract

Abstract Many students with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) attending higher education drop out prematurely. The predictive value of self-reported daily executive functioning (EF) and (cognitive) performance-based EF (mental flexibility and working memory) for academic progress was evaluated in 54 young adults with ASD (Mage = 22.5, SD = 2.4, 72% male). Regression analyses showed that autism symptom severity explained 12% of variance in academic progress, which was raised to 36% by adding self-reported daily EF, and to 25% by adding performance-based EF. It is suggested that EF is a candidate marker for academic progress in higher education students with ASD and a candidate target for early intervention.

Authors 5

  1. Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands

  2. Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands

  3. Leiden University · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Department of Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  4. Leiden University · Radboud University Nijmegen · Radboud University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Karakter Universitair Centrum, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

  5. Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. hswaab@fsw.leidenuniv.nl

    Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands. hswaab@fsw.leidenuniv.nl

    Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands

Cited by 72 stored of 72

No patents citing this paper on Lens.org (checked 2026-10-11).

References 64