Poster #20 - Developing “Adulting for Health” to support the health needs and capacities of neurodivergent emerging adults

• In Event: Poster Session 03

Abstract

Emerging adulthood (ages 18-30) is a developmental period characterized by transitions and instability in healthcare, education, employment, and interpersonal domains (Baggio et al., 2017; Barlett et al., 2020) Emerging adults experience distinct health challenges relative to adolescent and older adult populations, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, eating-related disorders, substance use, non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts (Collins et al., 2020; Goldstein et al., 2015). They also experience fluctuations in their positive mental health, defined by a sense of meaning, purpose, and connection.(Baggio et al., 2017) Several physical health issues are particularly emphasized in the literature: obesity, hypertension, and pre-diabetes, which compound to create additional mental health challenges and permeate into later adulthood (Ureña-Bogarín et al., 2015).

Although emerging adulthood can represent a developmental period of risk, it also represents a key opportunity for health-promoting interventions (Dahl et al., 2018; Fuhrmann et al., 2015). Leveraging this opportunity is particularly important for neurodivergent emerging adults, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as autism, ADHD, and developmental delays. This population experiences lifelong issues related to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, metabolic, and mental health, as well as lower overall health and life expectancy (Croen et al., 2015).

The current study was an exploratory pilot-study that featured a multi-dimensional health-based needs assessment of neurodivergent emerging adults (n = 26; M age = 22.8; SD = 3.4). The assessment—administered via Qualtrics to participants in two sites—included the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form; the Kessler-6 Psychological Distress Scale; the Intuitive Eating, Weight-Related Control, Emotional Eating and Physical Activity subscales from Project EAT-IV; and an original health-focused needs assessment developed by interdisciplinary healthcare professionals and neurodivergent individuals.

The sample reported low positive mental health and high psychological distress; varied intuitive eating and weight-control behaviors and attitudes; and needs related to integrating principles of health-promotion into daily life, navigating the healthcare system, and learning from healthcare professionals. This research coalesced into the following recommendations for a potential intervention.

1) Mental health efforts should focus on cultivating strategies to promote positive mental health and reduce psychological distress. Strategies may include cultivating sleep hygiene. Efforts can also focus on promoting optimal health, well-being, and thriving, potentially using strategies such as mindfulness, meditation, and others.
2) Focus physical health content on developing a health-promoting relationship with food through cultivating intuitive eating, reducing weight-related concerns, and understanding potential emotional eating patterns. Practical information about buying food on a budget should be prioritized.
3) Provide education and practical support surrounding navigating the healthcare system and services.
4) Prioritize a pedagogical approach that is accessible and multi-modal and integrates perspectives from interdisciplinary experts in the field.

Based on these recommendations, we present an initial blueprint for “Adulting for Health”, a potential virtual intervention program to address the priorities identified in this research. Beyond informing “Adulting for Health,” results from this exploratory pilot study can be incorporated into existing programs and spur efforts to develop and test new interventions that can ameliorate health disparities for neurodivergent emerging adults.

Authors

• Emily Hotez, UCLA
  Presenting Author

• Julianna Rava

• Lindsay Shea

• Alice A Kuo