ECB Education
E-mail: [javascript protected email address]
Autism significantly impacts the mental well-being of adults. Research shows that mental health problems are greater in autistic individuals compared to non-autistic individuals, with increased rates of anxiety disorders, depression, and suicidal thoughts. An important aspect of the relationship between autism and mental health is the phenomenon of 'camouflaging', for example altering behavior to hide autistic traits in an attempt to be less noticeable as an autistic individual.
Camouflaging involves actions such as maintaining eye contact, using social scripts, suppressing responses to sensory differences, or adopting a persona to appear more socially acceptable. It has been shown that camouflaging is associated with autistic traits and can lead to exhaustion, not seeking reasonable adjustments, and even reinforcing negative stereotypes and personal responsibility for difficulties.
The study by Moore et al. (2023) from the universities of Nottingham and Newcastle (UK) focused on exploring the mediating effects of camouflaging behaviors on the relationship between autistic traits and mental well-being, and how autistic identity might moderate this relationship. Interestingly, no direct effects were found between autistic traits and mental well-being. 'Assimilation', a form of camouflaging, was found to be an important mediator for all measures of mental well-being, while 'compensation' was only a significant mediator for positive well-being.
Autistic identity, defined as how an individual perceives their autistic characteristics, can influence the impact of autistic traits on other experiences. A strong autistic identity can buffer the impact of autistic characteristics on mental health difficulties. However, in this study, autistic identity was not a significant moderator in the relationship between autistic traits, camouflaging, and mental health.
The researchers emphasize the importance of considering camouflaging behaviors, especially assimilation and compensation, when offering psychological interventions to support the mental well-being of autistic individuals. They also state that additional research into external drivers of camouflaging, such as stigma, and the mechanisms through which camouflaging affects mental health, is needed. At the same time, societal change is necessary to reduce the need for camouflaging.
The original scientific research article can be read here.