Sociocultural context and autistics’ quality of life: A comparison between Québec and France

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. two authors of this publication are identified as autistic in the project.

About the autistic author marker

Caron, V., Jeanneret, N., Giroux, M., Guerrero, L., Ouimet, M., d’Arc, B. F., Soulières, I., & Courcy, I. (2021). Sociocultural context and autistics’ quality of life: A comparison between Québec and France. Autism, 26(4), 900-913. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211035229

Journal or book title
Autism
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Volume
26
Issue
4
Pages
900-913
Publication date: 30 Jul 2021 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
8
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 8 (25.0%)

Abstract

Quality of life is important for the development and evaluation of interventions for autistic people. It is a multidimensional concept, anchored in a sociocultural context and based on a person’s subjective assessment of their life. The aim of this study is to examine whether the determinants of perceived quality of life vary by country (or culture) by comparing two groups of French-speaking autistic adults ( n = 430), one in France and the other in Québec (Canada). A cross-sectional survey was conducted to provide information on the quality of life (Autism Quality of Life Measure—ASQoL), diagnosis and health conditions, self-evaluation of autistic traits (Autism-Spectrum Quotient—AQ10), and sociodemographic characteristics of these two samples. The results of our comparison of French-speaking autistic adults in France and Québec suggest that sociocultural context has an impact on autistic people’s quality of life ( r 2 = 0.280). The Québec group reported a superior quality of life. The social experience of autism-related stigmatization emerges as a strong predictor of lower quality of life in both groups. However, the two groups differ with other predictors. This study demonstrates the importance of considering sociocultural context in measuring quality of life in autistic adults. It emphasizes the need for awareness programs and public campaigns aimed at identifying and countering stigmatization processes. Lay abstract What is already known about the topic? Quality of life refers to how people perceive aspects of their life such as physical health, material security, and interpersonal relationships. Studies have reported lower quality of life among autistic individuals than in the general population. What does this article contribute? This article contributes to a better understanding of quality of life and its measures from the point of view of autistic adults. By comparing two groups of French-speaking autistic adults from two different places (France and Québec—Canada), this research shows that the perception of quality of life and its determining factors differ for autistic adults living in each country. The Québec group reported a superior quality of life, and some quality of life predictors were different in each group. The social experience of autism-related stigmatization, however, was a powerful predictor of quality of life for all. Implications for practice, research, and policy To promote a higher quality of life for autistic people, it is important to consider the sociocultural context and implement awareness programs and public campaigns aimed at identifying and countering stigmatization processes.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 11:54.

Cited references
67
With a DOI
53
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
14
11 / 67 (16.4%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
10 / 67 (14.9%)
References with detected author names
58 / 67 (86.6%)
Without detected author names
9
Without a structured title
10
Without a stable identifier
13
References with raw author names still to review
9
References with external metadata lookup issues
1
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
195
From DOI or external metadata
195
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
21
104 / 195 (53.3%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 91 / 195 (46.7%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
22 / 195 (11.3%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 22 / 104 (21.2%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 13 / 171 (7.6%).
  1. Kober, Ralph (2011). Enhancing the Quality of Life of People with Intellectual Disabilities . Springer Netherlands.
    OpenAlex OpenCitations
  2. Carrie T. Allison , Bonnie Auyeung , Simon Baron-Cohen (2012). Toward Brief “Red Flags” for Autism Screening: The Short Autism Spectrum Quotient and the Short Quantitative Checklist in 1,000 Cases and 3,000 Controls . Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(2), 202-212.e7. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  3. null (2016). null . Philosophy Study, 6(9). David Publishing Company.
    OpenAlex OpenCitations
  4. Inge Kamp-Becker , Johanna Schröder , Helmut Remschmidt , Christian J. Bachmann (2010). Health-related quality of life in adolescents and young adults with high functioning autism-spectrum disorder . Psychological Medicine, 31(7), 1. German Medical Science GMS Publishing House.
    OpenAlex OpenCitations
  5. Barbara M. Altman (2001). Definitions, Models, Classifications, Schemes, and Applications . In Handbook of disability studies (pp. 97-122). SAGE Publications, Inc..
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  6. Yoko Kamio , Naoko Inada , Tomonori Koyama (2013). A nationwide survey on quality of life and associated factors of adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders . Autism, 17(1), 15-26. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  7. Heidi Sivertsen , Guro Hanevold Bjørkløf , Knut Engedal , Geir Selbæk , Anne-Sofie Helvik (2015). Depression and Quality of Life in Older Persons: A Review . Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 40(5-6), 311-339. S. Karger AG.
    OpenAlex
  8. Eilidh Cage , Jessica Di Monaco , Victoria Newell (2019). Understanding, attitudes and dehumanisation towards autistic people . Autism, 23(6), 1373-1383. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  9. David Saldaña , Rosa M. Álvarez , Silvia Lobatón , Ana M. Lopez , Macarena Moreno , Miguel Rojano (2009). Objective and subjective quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorders in southern Spain . Autism, 13(3), 303-316. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  10. Eva Billstedt , I. Carina Gillberg , Christopher Gillberg (2011). Aspects of quality of life in adults diagnosed with autism in childhood . Autism, 15(1), 7-20. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  11. Nick Haslam (2006). Dehumanization: An Integrative Review . Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10(3), 252-264. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  12. Pier Jaarsma , Stellan Welin (2012). Autism as a natural human variation: reflections on the claims of the neurodiversity movement . Healthcare Anal, 20(1), 20. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  13. Monique Botha *Autistic author. Learn more… , Bridget Dibb , David M. Frost (2020). "Autism is me": An investigation of how autistic individuals make sense of autism and stigma. Center for Open Science.
    Crossref OpenCitations
  14. So Yoon Kim (2019). The experiences of adults with autism spectrum disorder: Self-determination and quality of life . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 60, 1-15. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  15. B. Chamak , B. Bonniau (2013). Changes in the Diagnosis of Autism: How Parents and Professionals Act and React in France . Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry, 37(3), 405-426. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  16. (n.d.). Botha M. Dibb B. Rusconi P. Frost D. M. (2021 May 3–7). Autistic community connectedness as a moderator of the effect of minority stress on mental health in the autistic population [ePoster session]. International Society for Autism Research 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting. https://stirlingautismresearch.stir.ac.uk/files/2021/05/Autistic-Community-Connectedness-as-a-Moderator-of-the-Effect-of-Minority-Stress-on-Mental-Health-in-the-Autistic-Population.pdf
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  17. David Coghill , Marina Danckaerts , Edmund Sonuga‐Barke , Joseph Sergeant , the ADHD European Guidelines Group (2009). Practitioner Review: Quality of life in child mental health – conceptual challenges and practical choices . Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50(5), 544-561. Wiley.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  18. Shawn O. Utsey , Mark H. Chae , Christa F. Brown , Deborah Kelly (2002). Effect of ethnic group membership on ethnic identity, race-related stress, and quality of life. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 8(4), 366-377. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  19. Matthew Hollocks , Jian Wei Lerh , Iliana Magiati , Richard Meiser-Stedman , Traolach Brugha (2019). Anxiety and depression in adults with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis . Psychological Medicine, 49(4), 559-572. Cambridge University Press (CUP).
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  20. Brigitte Chamak (2010). Autismes: des représentations multiples, sources de controverses . Enfances & Psy, n° 47(2), 150-158. CAIRN.INFO.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  21. Eilidh Cage , Jessica Di Monaco , Victoria Newell (2018). Experiences of autism acceptance and mental health in autistic adults . J Autism Dev Disord, 48(2), 473-484. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  22. Susan Carter (2009). Bullying of Students with Asperger Syndrome . Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 32(3), 145-154. Informa UK Limited.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  23. Hsu-Min Chiang , Immanuel Wineman (2014). Factors associated with quality of life in individuals with autism spectrum disorders: A review of literature . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8(8), 974-986. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  24. Émilie Cappe , Nathalie Poirier , Carol Sankey , Andréa Belzil , Carmen Dionne (2018). Quality of life of French Canadian parents raising a child with autism spectrum disorder and effects of psychosocial factors . Quality of Life Research, 27(4), 955-967. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  25. Robert L. Schalock (2010). The Measurement and Use of Quality of Life-Related Personal Outcomes . In Social Indicators Research Series (pp. 3-16). Springer Netherlands.
    Crossref OpenCitations
  26. Nick Walker *Autistic author. Learn more… , Dora M. Raymaker *Autistic author. Learn more… (2021). Toward a Neuroqueer Future: An Interview with Nick Walker . Autism in Adulthood, 3(1), 5-10. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  27. Domingo García-Villamisar , Paul Wehman , Maria Diaz Navarro (2002). Changes in the quality of autistic people’s life that work in supported and sheltered employment. A 5-year follow-up study . J Vocat Rehabil., 17(4), 309. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  28. Marjorie Kagawa-Singer , Geraldine V. Padilla , Kimlin Ashing-Giwa (2010). Health-Related Quality of Life and Culture . Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 26(1), 59-67. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  29. J O Renty , Herbert Roeyers (2006). Quality of life in high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder . Autism, 10(5), 511-524. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  30. Cohen J. (1988). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences . Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, 77.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  31. Lauren P Lawson , Amanda Richdale , Alexandra Haschek , Rebecca L. Flower , Josh Vartuli , Samuel R. C. Arnold et al. (2020). Cross-sectional and longitudinal predictors of quality of life in autistic individuals from adolescence to adulthood: The role of mental health and sleep quality . Autism, 24(4), 954-967. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  32. Barbara FC van Heijst , Hilde M. Geurts (2015). Quality of life in autism across the lifespan: A meta-analysis . Autism, 19(2), 158-167. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  33. (n.d.). Courcy I. Jeanneret N. Caron V. Giroux M. Guerrero L. Ouimet M. Forgeot d’Arc B. Soulières I. (in progress). The quality of life of autistic adults: A first portrait in Québec.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  34. Cramér H. (1946). Mathematical methods of statistics . Mathematical methods of statistics.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  35. Ling-Yi Lin (2014). Quality of Life of Taiwanese Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder . PLoS ONE, 9(10), e109567. Public Library of Science (PLoS).
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  36. Andy P. Field (2018). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics .
    Type: Book OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2249595199
    Crossref OpenAlex
  37. Meng-Chuan Lai , Caroline Kassee , Richard Besney , Sarah Bonato , Laura Hull , Will Mandy et al. (2019). Prevalence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses in the autism population: a systematic review and meta-analysis . Lancet Psychiatry, 6(10), 819. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  38. Desiree R Jones , Kilee M. DeBrabander , Noah Sasson (2021). Effects of autism acceptance training on explicit and implicit biases toward autism . Autism, 25(5), 1246-1261. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  39. Jinkuk Hong , Lauren Bishop-Fitzpatrick , Leann E. Smith , Jan S. Greenberg , Marsha R. Mailick (2016). Factors Associated with Subjective Quality of Life of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Self-Report Versus Maternal Reports . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(4), 1368-1378. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  40. (n.d.). Harrison A. J. Bildt A. Yu L. Naqvi N. Smit A. K. Low H. Yang C. Saade S. (2021 May 3–7). Assessing autism knowledge and stigma across the global landscape using the ASK-Q [ePoster session]. International Society for Autism Research 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting. https://insar.confex.com/insar/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/37033
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  41. Philippa Moss , Will Mandy , Patricia Howlin (2017). Child and Adult Factors Related to Quality of Life in Adults with Autism . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(6), 1830-1837. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  42. THE WHOQOL GROUP (1998). Development of the World Health Organization WHOQOL-BREF Quality of Life Assessment . Psychological Medicine, 28(3), 551-558. Cambridge University Press (CUP).
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  43. Giorgia Sala , Laura Pecora , Merrilyn Hooley , Mark A. Stokes (2020). As Diverse as the Spectrum Itself: Trends in Sexuality, Gender and Autism . Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 7(2), 59-68. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  44. Rebecca D. Pfeffer (2016). Childhood Victimization in a National Sample of Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders . Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 13(4), 311-319. Wiley.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  45. IBM Corporation (2020). IBM Corporation. (2020). IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows (Version 27. 0) [Released]. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  46. Institut national de la statisque et des études économiques. (2020). Indicateurs de richesse nationales (National wealth indicators). Direction générale du ministère de l’Économie et des Finances. https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3281596?sommaire=3281778#tableau-figure2
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  47. Helen McConachie , David Mason *Autistic author. Learn more… , Jeremy R. Parr , Deborah Garland , Colin Wilson , Jacqui Rodgers (2018). Enhancing the validity of a quality of life measure for Autistic people . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(5), 1596. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    AutiHub · Autistic Autism Scholarship Project Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  48. Kamp-Becker I. Schröder J. Remschmidt H. Bachmann C. J. (2010). Health-related quality of life in adolescents and young adults with high functioning autism-spectrum disorder. Psycho-Social Medicine 7 Doc03. https://doi.org/10 . 3205/psm000065
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  49. Jonathan Weiss , Michelle A. Fardella (2018). Victimization and Perpetration Experiences of Adults With Autism . Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9(May), 203. Frontiers Media SA.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  50. LimeSurvey Project Team & Schmitz C. (2012). LimeSurvey: An open source survey tool [Computer software]. https://www.limesurvey.org
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  51. A. Paul , C. Gallot , C. Lelouche , M. P. Bouvard , Anouck Amestoy (2018). Victimisation in a French population of children and youths with autism spectrum disorder: a case control study . Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 12(1), 48. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  52. Bethany Oakley , Julian Tillmann , Jumana Ahmad , Daisy Crawley , Antonia San José Cáceres , R. J. Holt et al. (2021). How do core autism traits and associated symptoms relate to quality of life? Findings from the Longitudinal European Autism Project . Autism, 25(2), 389-404. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  53. (n.d.). Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux du Québec. (2016 June). Statistiques de santé et de bien être selon le sexe—Tout le Québec (Health and wellness statistics by gender-All of Quebec]. Statistique Canada. https://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/professionnels/statistiques-donnees-sante-bien-etre/statistiques-de-sante-et-de-bien-etre-selon-le-sexe-volet-national/taux-d-emploi-selon-le-niveau-d-etudes/
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  54. (n.d.). Reynaud A. (2014 November 27). Trois articles tournant autour du syndrome d’Asperger & de la neurodiversité (Three articles revolving around Asperger’s syndrome & neurodiversity). Les tribulations d’une Aspergirl. http://les-tribulations-dune-aspergirl.com/2014/11/27/trois-articles-tournant-autour-du-syndrome-dasperger-de-la-neurodiversite-novembre-2014/
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  55. R. C. Geary , Harold Cramer (1947). Mathematical Methods of Statistics. The Economic Journal, 57(226), 200. Oxford University Press (OUP).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.2307/2226151 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4255783720
    OpenAlex
  56. Keith Muller , Jacob Cohen (1989). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences . Technometrics, 31(4), 499-500. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.2307/1270020 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4300870773
    OpenAlex
  57. Smart J. F. (2006). Challenges to the biomedical model of disability . Advances in Medical Psychotherapy & Psychodiagnosis, 12, 41.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  58. Statistique Canada (2018). Taux de chômage, taux d'activité et taux d'emploi selon le niveau de scolarité atteint, données annuelles . Statistics Canada Dissemination. Gouvernement du Canada.
    OpenAlex
  59. Statistics Canada. (2021). Unemployment rate participation rate and employment rate by level of education attained annual data (Table 14-10-0020-01). https://doi.org/10 . 25318/1410002001-fra
    Type: Other
    Crossref