Understanding loneliness and social isolation in autistic young adults
Official title: Defining Trajectories of Loneliness in Young Autistic Adults
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11394026 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study will follow autistic young adults to see how life changes like going to college, starting jobs, or moving homes affect loneliness and social connections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $616,799 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD118557-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394026 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Autistic individuals ages roughly 18 and older experiencing social loneliness or isolation, willing to participate in a multi-year study.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not experiencing loneliness or those unwilling to participate in long-term follow-up may see limited personal benefit.
What this research studies
This study tracks autistic individuals as they transition through young adulthood to identify what makes loneliness better or worse over time. Researchers will collect information from participants about their social networks, daily routines, and impacted areas such as work, school, and living situations. The goal is to find factors that could guide practical interventions to improve connectedness and well-being for autistic young adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform targeted supports to reduce loneliness and improve social wellbeing for autistic young adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows loneliness is common in young adults, with limited longitudinal data in autistic populations; this study builds on emerging evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Song, Wei — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Song, Wei
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.