Social Network Structure in Autistic Individuals: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background:

While many studies aim to address social communication differences between autistic and non-autistic individuals, little is known about the real-world impact on the quantity and quality of social relationships that develop across their lifespan. Social network analysis captures the size and connectedness of one’s social network and offers insight into one’s social connectivity with other people either within one (e.g., school, workplace) or multiple social settings.

Methods:

Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we searched across PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science to identify articles that examined how the social network structure is measured among autistic individuals and the characteristics of social network structure across the lifespan.

Results:

After removing 308 duplicates from 4177 identified studies, we screened titles and abstracts for 3869 articles and full texts for 70 articles. Twenty-five studies met the eligibility and led to 4 additional relevant studies identified from reference lists, with a total of 29 studies included for narrative synthesis. Most studies were U.S.-based (n = 19) and included children and young people (n = 21) recruited from local schools (n = 20). Many studies (n = 17) used the Friendship Survey to assess peer relationships within classroom settings, with social networks that reflect peer acceptance, rejection, and reciprocal friendships. Results indicate that autistic children experience greater isolation with more peripheral status and lower peer acceptance compared with their neurotypical peers. Other social network mapping tools in adults captured both social network structure (e.g., number of network members and their connections with each other), and some captured support provided by network members, with family members often cited as providing the most frequent and best quality support across a range of life domains.

Conclusion:

There is limited knowledge about social network structure for autistic individuals beyond childhood in classroom settings. Social network analysis may provide a valuable snapshot into the types of social connections an autistic individual may have in one or more settings. However, we emphasize the need to work together with autistic individuals to understand how they perceive their social network structure to be meeting their social need.

Community Brief

Why is this topic important?

Many interventions aim to improve social inclusion for autistic individuals in different social settings. However, there is a risk of imposing the neurotypical assumption that not only quality but also the number of social relationships may reduce isolation and improve availability of support to autistic individuals. Social network analysis is a methodology that can create personalized maps that show how an autistic individual is connected to other people within one or multiple social settings. Social network map can explore the most important relationships to an autistic individual and spark conversations around how their social network can best meet their social and nonsocial needs.

What is the purpose of this article?

We want to explore how social networks are currently measured in autistic individuals across the lifespan and key features of social connections across the lifespan.

What did the authors do?

We designed a search strategy that focused on autism and social network characteristics such as number of social network members involved and their connections with each other and identified relevant literature across three academic databases. We reviewed published studies to look at different ways of measuring social network characteristics in literature and different features of social networks across autistic individuals’ lifespan.

What did the authors find about this topic?

We found 29 studies that measured social network characteristics in autistic people. Most studies looked at social connections between autistic children and classmates in U.S. school settings. Autistic children are more isolated and found on the edge of social groups in classrooms. Few looked at social network characteristics in adulthood and through life transitions. Social network sizes vary significantly depending on the measurement used. Autistic young adults perceive family to provide more frequent high-quality support during transition to university. Autistic adults perceive family to provide more practical support, and partners to provide more emotional and social participation support.

What do the authors recommend?

We highlight that interpretation of social networks needs to be done collaboratively with the autistic individuals to understand from their perspective: (1) how they are getting their social needs and goals met within their existing network and (2) plan with the autistic person on what meaningful changes (if any) they may wish to see in their social network. We also highlight that future research can explore how different people seen as important by the autistic individual can provide insight into how the autistic individual is accepted by different people within their network.

How will these findings help autistic adults now or in the future?

We hope generating social network maps along with the autistic individual can help practitioners better understand and support autistic individuals to explore and consolidate their social connections in a way that is meaningful to them. We hope social network measures can become a more meaningful outcome measure that incorporates autistic individuals’ perspectives and captures real-life changes in social relationships when evaluating interventions that aim to improve social inclusion for autistic individuals across the lifespan.