Sleep, Mental Health, and Unemployment for Autistic Adults: Mapping Employment Pathways

This research examines the relationship between sleep quality, mental health, and employment outcomes for autistic adults. Building on evidence that autistic individuals experience disproportionately high rates of unemployment and underemployment, these studies investigate whether mental health mediates the relationship between sleep difficulties and reduced work participation. Grounded in strengths-based and social model philosophies, the research focuses on identifying scalable, person-centred strategies rather than "fixing" the individual. The project comprises three studies: (1) a scoping review mapping existing literature on sleep, mental health and employment in autistic populations; (2) qualitative analysis of existing data exploring autistic employees' experiences of how sleep impacts work; and (3) a quantitative study testing whether depression, anxiety and stress mediate the relationship between sleep quality and hours worked. Findings may inform low-cost interventions targeting sleep to improve employment outcomes.