An increasing number of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) enter higher education each year. Researchers from Leiden University collaborated with Stumass (JADOS) to identify... Show moreAn increasing number of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) enter higher education each year. Researchers from Leiden University collaborated with Stumass (JADOS) to identify factors that are important for the quality of life of these young adults. The extent to which a student with ASD feels able to show flexible behavior, self-monitor one’s own social behavior, and plan and organize daily activities proved important for satisfaction and study success in daily life. Our research showed that emotional awareness and the ability to use one's own emotions as a means of navigation in daily functioning are less well developed in young adults with ASD. The ability to regulate emotions contributes to adaptive behavior in social situations, and to the perceived quality of life. In addition, it was found that for many students with ASD, the autonomic nervous system is less adaptive in response to socially meaningful information, compared to their typically developing peers. This can have consequences for the experience of social situations. The results described in this thesis emphasize the importance of developing interventions that strengthen executive functioning and emotion regulation in this group of young adults with ASD. Supporting self-regulation could improve quality of life for students with ASD. Show less
Abbing, A.C.; Baars, E.W.; Sonneville, L. de; Ponstein, A.S.; Swaab, H. 2019
Objectives: Art therapy (AT) as a treatment option for anxiety is regularly employed in clinical practice, but scientific evidence for its effectiveness is lacking, since this intervention has... Show moreObjectives: Art therapy (AT) as a treatment option for anxiety is regularly employed in clinical practice, but scientific evidence for its effectiveness is lacking, since this intervention has hardly been studied. The aim was to study the effectiveness of AT on anxiety in adult women. The specific type of AT studied was anthroposophic AT.Methods: A RCT comparing AT versus a waiting list (WL) condition on anxiety symptom severity, quality of life, and emotion regulation. Factors influencing treatment outcome were additionally explored. Participants were women, aged 18–65 years, diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder or panic disorder, with moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. The trial was registered in the Dutch Trial Registration (NL6661).Results: Fifty-nine women were included, of which 47 completed the trial. Both per-protocol and intention-to treat analyses demonstrated effectiveness of AT compared to WL, showing a reduction in anxiety, an increase in subjective quality of life (both with large effects) and an improvement in accessibility of emotion regulation strategies (medium effect). Treatment effects remained after 3 months follow-up. Improved acceptance of emotions and improved goal-oriented action are aspects of emotion regulation that are associated with the decrease in anxiety level.Conclusion: AT is effective in reducing anxiety symptoms, improving quality of life and aspects of emotion regulation. Future RCTs should use active controls (treatment as usual) and study cost-effectiveness. Show less
