Nicole Matthews, Ph.D.

Key Research Interests

Dr. Matthews’ research program includes multiple lines of research with a broad goal of improving quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. Her recent research includes: (1) development and testing of interventions to support mental health, social relationships, and quality of life in autistic adolescents and adults; (2) the development of novel methods for improving access to autism screening and evaluation, and (3) environmental interventions to improve inclusion and accessibility of public spaces for autistic individuals and their families.

Education

• B.A. Psychology
  University of California, Santa Barbara
• M.A. Social Ecology
• Ph.D. Developmental Psychology
  University of California, Irvine
• Post-Doctoral Training
  Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC)

Research

• View easy-to-read summaries of SARRC’s recent original research publications »

Selected Publications

• Matthews, N. L., Mitchell, M. M., Honda, H., Malligo, A., Boyd, S., Pagni, B. A., & Braden, B. B. (2025). Pilot randomized controlled trial of MINDful TIME, a novel telehealth mindfulness-based intervention for autistic adolescents and their caregivers. Autism, Online ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251328484
• James, S., Smith, C., Boyd, S., Doebler, T., Madigan, R., & Matthews, N. L. (2025). School-based Universal Screening for Autism. School Psychology Review, Online ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2025.2503135
• Matthews, N. L., Honda, H., Mitchell, M. M., Johns, A., Kiefer, S. L., Mann, M., Schimmel, K., Boglio, A., Hallur, S., Koke, J., Verbeke, M., Babendure, J., & Smith, C. J. (2024). Building Capacity for Inclusive Informal STEM Learning Opportunities for Autistic Learners. International Journal of STEM Education, 11, 53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-024-00514-2
• Stadheim, J., Johns, A., Mitchell, M., Smith, C. J., Braden, B. B., & Matthews, N. L. (2022). A qualitative examination of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents with autism and their parents. Research in Developmental Disabilities. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104232
• Matthews, N. L., Christenson, K., Kiefer, S., & Smith, C. J. (2021). A mixed-methods examination of the gap between intelligence and adaptive functioning in autistic young adults without intellectual disability. Autism, 25, 2317–2330. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211018334
• Matthews, N. L., Skepnek, E., Mammen, M., James, J., Malligo, A., Lyons, A., Mitchell, M., Kiefer, S., & Smith, C. J. (2021). Feasibility and Acceptability of a Telehealth Model for Autism Diagnostic Evaluations in Children, Adolescents, and Adults. Autism Research.