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