Camouflaging refers to strategies used by autistic people to mask or hide social difficulties. The current study draws on Social Identity Theory to examine the relationship between camouflaging and autism-related stigma, testing the hypothesis that camouflaging represents an individualistic strategy in response to stigma. Two hundred and twenty-three autistic adults completed an online survey measuring perceived autism-related stigma, individualistic and collective strategies, camouflaging and mental wellbeing. Results indicated that higher camouflaging was positively associated with autism-related stigma and both individualistic and collective strategy use. Autism-related stigma was associated with lower wellbeing however this relationship was not mediated by camouflaging. These findings demonstrate how stigma contributes to camouflaging and highlight the complexities of navigating autistic identity while still camouflaging.
Camouflaging refers to strategies used by autistic people to mask or hide characteristics of autism. The current study draws on Social Identity Theory to examine the relationship between camouflaging and autism-related stigma, testing the hypothesis that camouflaging represents an individualistic strategy in response to stigma. 223 autistic adults completed an online survey measuring perceived autism-related stigma, individualistic and collective strategies, camouflaging and mental wellbeing. Results indicated that higher camouflaging was positively associated with autism-related stigma and both individualistic and collective strategy use. Autism-related stigma was associated with lower wellbeing however this relationship was not mediated by camouflaging. These findings provide partial support for our hypothesis and highlight the complex navigation of a positive autistic identity while still camouflaging.
Background: Camouflaging refers to behaviors in which autistic individuals hide their autistic characteristics and “pass” as non-autistic people. It is postulated that camouflaging is a response to stigma, and preliminary evidence supports this hypothesis. However, there has been limited research on this topic outside of Western countries. This study sought to replicate and extend previous work examining the relationships between camouflaging, stigma, and mental health in Japanese autistic people. Methods: Two hundred eighty seven autistic people living in Japan completed an online survey on camouflaging, perceived stigma, individualistic and collective strategies, mental wellbeing, anxiety, social anxiety, and depression. We used multiple regression analysis, mediation analyses, and two-sample t-tests to analyze the collected data. Results: We found that higher camouflaging was predicted by higher perceived stigma and more individualistic and collective strategy use. Camouflaging mediates the association of stigma with depression, anxiety, and social anxiety (but not wellbeing). Furthermore, autistic people in Japan reported lower perceived stigma, camouflaging, wellbeing, and collective strategy use but more individualistic strategies than those in a Western sample. Conclusion: Our findings support the hypothesis that camouflaging is a response to stigma and can influence the impact of stigma on mental health. There are also cross-cultural differences worth attending to, and more work around supporting positive autistic identity in Japan would be beneficial.
In December 2020, The North Thames Learning Disabilities Special Interest Group (SIG) met over video to discuss how Clinical Psychologists and aspiring psychologists experience, manage and combat racism in their work. This paper focuses on two presentations from the day by Islington Learning Disabilities Partnership. The first presentation focused on the barriers faced by people with Learning Disabilities (PWLD) to understand racism and receive support as victims or perpetrators. The talk identified a clear need for further accessible resources about racism and strategies to unlearn racism that go beyond cultural appreciation. The second presentation focused on the experiences of a black and a brown undergraduate psychologist joining an all-white LD psychology team in October 2020. Live semi-structured interviews were completed, informed by Whyte’s (2019) concept of robust vulnerability. The purpose was to explore different perspectives and experiences around what anti-racism means and what work that needs to be done by clinical psychologists individually and as a collective. It is the responsibility of the profession to not only diversify but ensure the needs of victims of racism are put before white discomfort and that black and ethnic minorities are not burdened with implementing anti-racist practices.Easy read summaryThe Learning Disabilities Special Interest Group (SIG) met over video in December 2020. The group talked about how racism affects the Learning Disabilities (LD) community. Racism is the unfair treatment of people based on their skin colour.This paper talks about two presentations from the day by Islington Learning Disabilities Partnership (ILDP). The first presentation was about support for people with learning disabilities. People are not always given support to cope with racism or to understand how to stop it.The second presentation was about anti-racism. Anti-racism means doing things to understand and fight racism. A black and a brown female student psychologist talked about their experiences in a team with all white psychologists. They interviewed two white psychologists about what they know and do to be anti-racist. They then interviewed each other about their experiences. They said that talking about racism helps people to cope with it and to stop it.
Background: Camouflaging refers to behaviors in which autistic individuals hide their autistic characteristics and “pass” as non-autistic people. It is postulated that camouflaging is a response to stigma, and preliminary evidence supports this hypothesis. However, there has been limited research on this topic outside of Western countries. This study sought to replicate and extend previous work examining the relationships between camouflaging, stigma, and mental health in Japanese autistic people. Methods: Two hundred eighty seven autistic people living in Japan completed an online survey on camouflaging, perceived stigma, individualistic and collective strategies, mental wellbeing, anxiety, social anxiety, and depression. We used multiple regression analysis, mediation analyses, and two-sample t-tests to analyze the collected data. Results: We found that higher camouflaging was predicted by higher perceived stigma and more individualistic and collective strategy use. Camouflaging mediates the association of stigma with depression, anxiety, and social anxiety (but not wellbeing). Furthermore, autistic people in Japan reported lower perceived stigma, camouflaging, wellbeing, and collective strategy use but more individualistic strategies than those in a Western sample. Conclusion: Our findings support the hypothesis that camouflaging is a response to stigma and can influence the impact of stigma on mental health. There are also cross-cultural differences worth attending to, and more work around supporting positive autistic identity in Japan would be beneficial.
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