Factors associated with quality of life in individuals with autism spectrum disorders: A review of literature

•The majority of the individuals with ASD had poor QoL.•Behavior problems and leisure activities were associated with the QoL of the majority of adults with ASD.•Behavior problems and adaptive behavior were associated with the QoL of the majority of children with ASD.

This review study was conducted to synthesize the existing research on the level of quality of life (QoL) in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the factors associated with their QoL. A total of 16 studies were included for this review. This study found that (a) the majority of the individuals with ASD had poor QoL; (b) behavior problems and leisure activities were associated with the QoL of the majority of adults with ASD; (c) autism severity, age, behavior problems, social skills, adaptive behavior, education, and comorbid psychiatric conditions were associated with the QoL of the majority of children with ASD. These findings may provide critical information to parents/caregivers of individuals with ASD and practitioners providing services to them.