Executive Function and Autism

The study examined the relationship between executive functioning (EF) and various real-world outcomes in autistic adults, focusing on subjective quality of life and daily living skills. Results showed that females, individuals with lower household income, and those with higher autistic traits reported poorer physical health quality of life. Emotion regulation difficulties emerged as a significant predictor of lower quality of life across multiple domains, including physical, psychological, social relationships, and autism-specific well-being. However, daily living skills were more strongly linked to inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, rather than emotion regulation. This distinction between “hot” EF (emotion regulation) impacting subjective well-being and “cold” EF (inhibitory control and flexibility) influencing functional independence suggests that different intervention strategies may be required depending on the targeted outcome. Future research should explore more complex models, as difficulties in EF are also linked to co-occurring conditions like depression, ADHD, and anxiety, which may further mediate these outcomes. Despite progress in EF-based interventions for children and young adults, there remains a significant gap in research and support for improving executive function in autistic adults, underscoring the need for further studies and tailored intervention strategies.