scholarly journals Object personification in autism: This paper will be very sad if you don’t read it

Autism ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1042-1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebekah C White ◽  
Anna Remington
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
Person Experience

Object personification is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human agents. In online forums, autistic individuals commonly report experiencing this phenomenon. Given that approximately half of all autistic individuals experience difficulties identifying their own emotions, the suggestion that object personification may be a feature of autism seems almost paradoxical. Why would a person experience sympathy for objects, when they struggle to understand and verbalise the emotions of other people as well as their own? An online survey was used to assess tendency for personification in 87 autistic and 263 non-autistic adults. Together, our results indicate that object personification occurs commonly among autistic individuals, and perhaps more often (and later in life) than in the general population. Given that in many cases, autistic people report their personification experiences as distressing, it is important to consider the reasons for the increased personification and identify structures for support.

scholarly journals Is social camouflaging associated with anxiety and depression in autistic adults?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Hull ◽  
Lily Levy ◽  
Meng-Chuan Lai ◽  
K. V. Petrides ◽  
Simon Baron-Cohen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Abstract Background There is inconsistent evidence for a clear pattern of association between ‘camouflaging’ (strategies used to mask and/or compensate for autism characteristics during social interactions) and mental health. Methods This study explored the relationship between self-reported camouflaging and generalised anxiety, depression, and social anxiety in a large sample of autistic adults and, for the first time, explored the moderating effect of gender, in an online survey. Results Overall, camouflaging was associated with greater symptoms of generalised anxiety, depression, and social anxiety, although only to a small extent beyond the contribution of autistic traits and age. Camouflaging more strongly predicted generalised and social anxiety than depression. No interaction between camouflaging and gender was found. Limitations These results cannot be generalised to autistic people with intellectual disability, or autistic children and young people. The sample did not include sufficient numbers of non-binary people to run separate analyses; therefore, it is possible that camouflaging impacts mental health differently in this population. Conclusions The findings suggest that camouflaging is a risk factor for mental health problems in autistic adults without intellectual disability, regardless of gender. We also identified levels of camouflaging at which risk of mental health problems is highest, suggesting clinicians should be particularly aware of mental health problems in those who score at or above these levels.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic adults – a survey

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor James Davidson ◽  
Keri Lodge ◽  
Alwyn Kam
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Significant Deterioration ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
The Impact

Purpose To date there has been limited research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic people. This study aims to present the results of a survey of autistic people (n = 51) conducted by a UK specialist autism team. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional online survey. Findings A total of 72% respondents reported either some or significant deterioration in mental health during the pandemic. The issues that caused most negative impact were uncertainty over what will happen next and disruption of normal routine. Respondents reported a variety of coping strategies to help them through the pandemic. Originality/value To date there has been little research looking specifically at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic people. This paper adds weight to the evidence that the pandemic has had a particularly severe impact on autistic adults and includes useful information on potential coping strategies for this population.

scholarly journals Measurement Properties of the Suicidal Behaviour Questionnaire-Revised in Autistic Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 3477-3488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Cassidy ◽  
Louise Bradley ◽  
Heather Cogger-Ward ◽  
Rebecca Shaw ◽  
Erica Bowen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Measurement Properties ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
Key Questions

Abstract We explored the appropriateness and measurement properties of a suicidality assessment tool (SBQ-R) developed for the general population, in autistic adults—a high risk group for suicide. 188 autistic adults and 183 general population adults completed the tool online, and a sub-sample (n = 15) were interviewed while completing the tool. Multi-group factorial invariance analysis of the online survey data found evidence for metric non-invariance of the SBQ-R, particularly for items three (communication of suicidal intent) and four (likelihood of suicide attempt in the future). Cognitive interviews revealed that autistic adults did not interpret these items as intended by the tool designers. Results suggest autistic adults interpret key questions regarding suicide risk differently to the general population. Future research must adapt tools to better capture suicidality in autistic adults.

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Autistic Adults in the UK: A Mixed-Methods Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Bundy ◽  
William Mandy ◽  
Laura Crane ◽  
Hannah Belcher ◽  
Laura Bourne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with mental health declines in the general population. Those with pre-existing vulnerabilities are known to be at particular risk. This may include autistic people, who have high levels of mental and physical health problems. Yet little is currently known about the impact of the pandemic on autistic people. Using an online survey, this mixed-methods study gathered data from 133 autistic adults in the United Kingdom (UK), about their experiences of the pandemic in relation to their mental health. Results indicated that the mental health impact of the pandemic on autistic adults was variable. A sizeable minority reported improvements in their mental health associated with COVID-19 restrictions. By contrast, most participants described an overall negative impact their levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Analysis of qualitative data using thematic analysis highlighted four themes that contributed to mental health changes in autistic adults: (i) adjusting to changes to the social world, (ii) living with uncertainty, (iii) disruptions to self-regulation, and (iv) barriers to fulfilling basic needs. Based on these findings, we discuss recommendations about how to support autistic people; both as the pandemic persists and once normality ensues.

scholarly journals Gender differences in self-reported camouflaging in autistic and non-autistic adults

Autism ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 352-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Hull ◽  
Meng-Chuan Lai ◽  
Simon Baron-Cohen ◽  
Carrie Allison ◽  
Paula Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Gender Difference ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
First Time

Social camouflaging describes the use of strategies to compensate for and mask autistic characteristics during social interactions. A newly developed self-reported measure of camouflaging (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire) was used in an online survey to measure gender differences in autistic ( n = 306) and non-autistic adults ( n = 472) without intellectual disability for the first time. Controlling for age and autistic-like traits, an interaction between gender and diagnostic status was found: autistic females demonstrated higher total camouflaging scores than autistic males (partial η2 = 0.08), but there was no camouflaging gender difference for non-autistic people. Autistic females scored higher than males on two of three Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire subscales: Masking (partial η2 = 0.05) and Assimilation (partial η2 = 0.06), but not on the Compensation subscale. No differences were found between non-autistic males and females on any subscale. No differences were found between non-binary individuals and other genders in either autistic or non-autistic groups, although samples were underpowered. These findings support previous observations of greater camouflaging in autistic females than males and demonstrate for the first time no self-reported gender difference in non-autistic adults.

scholarly journals Autistic traits and loneliness in autism are associated with increased tendencies to anthropomorphise

2021 ◽  
pp. 174702182110056
Author(s):  
Nathan Caruana ◽  
Rebekah C White ◽  
Anna Remington
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Social Connection ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Natural Tendency ◽  
The World ◽  
Large Scale Survey ◽  
Autistic Adults

Anthropomorphism—the attribution of human qualities to non-human objects—is believed to be a natural tendency which may serve several adaptive functions. One possibility is that anthropomorphism provides an egocentric heuristic by which we can understand the world. It may also be a strategy for reducing our subjective sense of loneliness. However, not all humans exhibit the same propensity to anthropomorphise. Recent findings suggest that autistic individuals may be more likely to anthropomorphise than non-autistic individuals. In Study 1, we conducted a large-scale survey of autistic traits and dispositional anthropomorphism in the general population ( n = 870). We found that individuals who reported having more autistic traits had an increased dispositional tendency to anthropomorphise non-human entities. In Study 2, we more closely examined variation in anthropomorphism tendencies in a sample of autistic adults ( n = 90) to better understand what might drive increased anthropomorphism in this population. We found that those with greater anthropomorphism tendencies experienced greater levels of self-reported loneliness. We propose that increased anthropomorphism might reflect reduced opportunities for social connection for autistic people and those with more autistic traits.

scholarly journals ‘People like me don’t get support’: Autistic adults’ experiences of support and treatment for mental health difficulties, self-injury and suicidality

Autism ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1431-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Camm-Crosbie ◽  
Louise Bradley ◽  
Rebecca Shaw ◽  
Simon Baron-Cohen ◽  
Sarah Cassidy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Treatment Pathways ◽  
Self Injury ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Autistic Adults

Autistic people are at high risk of mental health problems, self-injury and suicidality. However, no studies have explored autistic peoples’ experiences of treatment and support for these difficulties. In partnership with a steering group of autistic adults, an online survey was developed to explore these individuals’ experiences of treatment and support for mental health problems, self-injury and suicidality for the first time. A total of 200 autistic adults (122 females, 77 males and 1 unreported) aged 18–67 (mean = 38.9 years, standard deviation = 11.5), without co-occurring intellectual disability, completed the online survey. Thematic analysis of open-ended questions resulted in an overarching theme that individually tailored treatment and support was both beneficial and desirable, which consisted of three underlying themes: (1) difficulties in accessing treatment and support; (2) lack of understanding and knowledge of autistic people with co-occurring mental health difficulties and (3) appropriate treatment and support, or lack of, impacted autistic people’s well-being and likelihood of seeing suicide as their future. Findings demonstrate an urgent need for autism treatment pathways in mental health services.

scholarly journals ‘Something needs to change’: Mental health experiences of young autistic adults in England

Autism ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 477-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Crane ◽  
Fern Adams ◽  
Georgia Harper ◽  
Jack Welch ◽  
Elizabeth Pellicano
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults

There is a high incidence and prevalence of mental health problems among young people, with several barriers to help-seeking noted in this group. High rates of mental health problems have also been reported in children and adults on the autism spectrum. Taken together, young autistic people may be a particularly vulnerable group when it comes to mental health. Yet, there has been remarkably little work on the mental health needs and experiences of young autistic adults (16–25 years). Adopting a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach – in which academic researchers and young autistic adults collaborated in an equitable research partnership – we explored young autistic people’s experiences of mental health problems and their perspectives on the support they sought, if any, for these problems. A total of 130 young autistic adults took part in the research: 109 completed an online survey and 21 took part in detailed interviews. The results highlight how young autistic people find it difficult to evaluate their mental health, experience high levels of stigma and often face severe obstacles when trying to access mental health support. The findings also demonstrate how listening to – and learning from – young autistic people is crucial in ensuring that their mental health needs are met.

scholarly journals “This was just how this friendship worked”: Experiences of Interpersonal Victimisation in Autistic Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Pearson ◽  
Jon Rees ◽  
Samantha Forster
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Social Understanding ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Limited Knowledge ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
The Individual

The victimisation of autistic people by known others (‘mate crime’, or interpersonal victimisation) is an understudied phenomenon despite suggestions that prevalence rates may be disproportionately high. This study recruited autistic adults, and used an online survey to ask them about their experiences of victimisation at the hands of people they know. A thematic analysis revealed three key themes: (1) What counts, which focussed on who the victimiser was and what they did. (2) It takes two (?) which focussed on the experience of compliance, and perpetrator assumptions about autistic social understanding. The final theme (3) Moving forward: time as a healer focussed on how participants had kept going, and found good relationships. Findings contribute towards our limited knowledge of interpersonal victimisation in autistic adults, and suggests any action taken to minimise these incidents focus on both supporting the individual, and reducing harmful societal stereotypes around disability.

scholarly journals Development and Validation of the Autistic Depression Assessment Tool – Adult (ADAT-A) in Autistic Adults.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Cassidy ◽  
Louise Bradley ◽  
Heather Cogger-Ward ◽  
Jessica Graham ◽  
Jacqui Rodgers
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Interviews ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Depression Assessment ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
Development And Validation

Abstract BackgroundDepression can be hard to accurately identify in autistic adults due to overlapping characteristics of autism and depression, and depression tools developed for the general population not including unique signs of depression experienced by autistic people. MethodsThree focus groups and 15 cognitive interviews with autistic adults identified response difficulties and missing autism specific items in a widely used depression assessment tool developed for the general population (PHQ-9). Feedback informed new items in the Autistic Depression Assessment Tool (ADAT-A). A further 9 cognitive interviews and two large online surveys with autistic adults refined the ADAT-A items. Subsequently, 236 autistic adults (87 male, 113 female, 33 non-binary, 18-61 years) completed the ADAT-A online, alongside self-report measures of camouflaging autistic traits (CAT-Q), Intolerance of Uncertainty (IUS-12), Suicidality (SBQ-ASC), Defeat and Entrapment (DES). Analyses explored structural validity, internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity of the ADAT-A in a community sample of autistic adults.ResultsExploratory factor analysis of the ADAT-A showed evidence in support of a three-factor solution, capturing cognitive-affective and somatic depression symptoms, and autistic specific depression symptoms. Internal consistency of each subscale and total scores were excellent (.87 - .94). The ADAT-A was significantly correlated with related constructs including self-reported suicidality, defeat and entrapment (rs>.49). The ADAT-A total score and subscales were significantly more strongly correlated with hypothesised proximally related compared to distally related constructs.LimitationsThe samples involved in the development and validation of the ADAT-A were largely female, and largely diagnosed as autistic in adulthood, which is not representative of the wider autistic population. The ADAT-A has initially been developed and validated for research purposes, and has not been validated for use in clinical contexts to screen for possible depression diagnosis.ConclusionsThe ADAT-A is a self-report autism specific depression assessment tool, developed and validated with and for autistic adults, without co-occurring intellectual disability. There is promising initial evidence in support of the measurement properties of this tool for use in research. Future research must explore whether the ADAT-A is useful in better identifying depression in autistic people in clinical settings, compared to other tools developed for the general population.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document