Previous studies have reported a negative psychological and mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This impact is likely to be stronger for people with autism as they are at heightened risk of mental health problems and because the pandemic directly affects social functioning and everyday routines. We therefore examined COVID-19 pandemic-related changes in mental health, the impact of the pandemic on their social life and routines, satisfaction with pandemic-related information and tips, and participants’ wishes for guidance. We used a mixed-method approach, collecting quantitative and qualitative survey data from adults with and without autism across three European countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK (N = 1044). We found an increase in depression and anxiety symptoms in response to the pandemic for both the non-autism and the autism group, which was greater for adults with autism. Furthermore, adults with autism showed a greater increase in worries about their pets, work, getting medication and food, and their own safety/security. They felt more relieved from social stress, yet experienced the loss of social contact as difficult. Adults with autism also felt more stressed about the loss of routines. Pleasant changes noted by adults with autism were the increase in solidarity and reduced sensory and social overload. Adults with autism frequently reported problems with cancellation of guidance due to the pandemic and expressed their wish for (more) autism-specific information and advice. Our sample is likely to reflect some degree of selection bias, and longitudinal studies are needed to determine long-term effects. Results highlight the psychological burden of the pandemic on adults with autism and shed light on how to support them during this COVID-19 pandemic, which is especially important now that the pandemic is likely to have a prolonged course. There is a need for accessible, affordable (continued) support from health services. Guidance may focus on the maintenance of a social network, and adjusting routines to the rapid ongoing changes. Finally, we may learn from the COVID-19 pandemic-related changes experienced as pleasant by adults with autism to build a more autism-friendly society post-pandemic.

中文翻译：

---

COVID-19大流行对自闭症成年人的心理影响：一项针对三个国家的调查研究

先前的研究报道了COVID-19大流行对心理和心理健康的负面影响。对于自闭症患者而言，这种影响可能会更强，因为他们面临着更大的精神健康问题风险，并且由于该流行病直接影响了社会功能和日常生活。因此，我们研究了COVID-19大流行相关的心理健康变化，大流行对其社交生活和日常活动的影响，对大流行相关信息和技巧的满意程度以及参与者的指导意愿。我们采用了混合方法，从三个欧洲国家（比利时，荷兰和英国）（N = 1044）收集了有自闭症和无自闭症成年人的定量和定性调查数据。我们发现，非自闭症和自闭症人群对大流行的反应，抑郁和焦虑症状的增加，对于自闭症的成年人更为明显。此外，患有自闭症的成年人对宠物，工作，吃药和进食以及自身安全性的担忧也增加了。他们感到社会压力减轻了许多，但经历了失去社交联系的困难。自闭症成年人也对失去套路感到更加压力。自闭症成年人注意到的一个令人愉快的变化是团结的增加以及感觉和社会负担的减少。自闭症成年人经常报告因大流行而取消指导的问题，并表示希望获得（更多）自闭症相关的信息和建议。我们的样本可能反映了一定程度的选择偏见，需要进行纵向研究以确定长期影响。结果突出显示了大流行对自闭症成年人的心理负担，并阐明了在COVID-19大流行期间如何支持大流行，这尤其重要，因为大流行可能会持续很长时间。需要卫生服务提供的，负担得起的（持续的）支持。指导可能侧重于维护社交网络，并根据日常的快速变化调整例程。最后，我们可能会从COVID-19大流行相关的变化中学到自闭症成年人所感到的愉悦感，从而在大流行后建立一个对自闭症更友好的社会。结果突出显示了大流行对自闭症成年人的心理负担，并阐明了在COVID-19大流行期间如何支持大流行，这尤其重要，因为大流行可能会持续很长时间。需要卫生服务提供的，负担得起的（持续的）支持。指导可能侧重于维护社交网络，并根据日常的快速变化调整例程。最后，我们可能会从COVID-19大流行相关的变化中学到自闭症成年人所感到的愉悦感，从而在大流行后建立一个对自闭症更友好的社会。结果突出显示了大流行对自闭症成年人的心理负担，并阐明了在COVID-19大流行期间如何支持大流行，这尤其重要，因为大流行可能会持续很长时间。需要卫生服务提供的，负担得起的（持续的）支持。指导可能侧重于维护社交网络，并根据日常的快速变化调整例程。最后，我们可以从COVID-19大流行相关的变化中学到自闭症成年人所感到的愉悦感，从而在大流行后建立一个对自闭症更友好的社会。并根据日常的快速变化调整常规。最后，我们可以从COVID-19大流行相关的变化中学到自闭症成年人所感到的愉悦感，从而在大流行后建立一个对自闭症更友好的社会。并根据日常的快速变化调整常规。最后，我们可以从COVID-19大流行相关的变化中学到自闭症成年人所感到的愉悦感，从而在大流行后建立一个对自闭症更友好的社会。