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Review
. 2025 May 2:4:1542543.
doi: 10.3389/frcha.2025.1542543. eCollection 2025.

The role of self-advocacy and self-determination in positive adjustment for autistic adolescents and young adults: a mini-review

Daniele C Martino  1   2 , Alexa Brantley  3 , Angela Scarpa  1   2
Affiliations
Review

The role of self-advocacy and self-determination in positive adjustment for autistic adolescents and young adults: a mini-review

Daniele C Martino et al. Front Child Adolesc Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Autistic individuals have an increased likelihood for negative adjustment relative to their peers, often as a result of adverse experiences. Consistent with the biosocial model of resilience and the growing neurodiversity movement, identifying factors that may contribute to positive outcomes among autistic individuals is an urgent research priority. The present review explores the existing literature on the role of self-advocacy and self-determination in promoting positive adjustment for autistic adolescents and young adults. Findings point to encouraging associations of self-advocacy and self-determination with various adjustment outcomes, including educational and employment outcomes, socialization, relationship development, identity development, self-concept, and quality of life. Implications are discussed, including limitations, directions for future research, and considerations for designing interventions that support autistic individuals to act with the agency and autonomy they desire.

Keywords: adolescence; autism; neurodiversity; self-advocacy; self-determination; young adulthood.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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