Impaired social cognition has been suggested to underlie the social communication difficulties that define autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In typical development, social cognition may deteriorate in older age, but age effects in ASD adults have been little explored. In the present study, we compared groups of younger and older adults with and without ASD (n = 97), who completed a set of social cognition tasks assessing theory of mind (ToM), and self‐report measures of empathy and alexithymia. While typically developing (TD) younger adults outperformed elderly TD and younger ASD participants, younger and older ASD adults did not differ in their ToM performance, and the elderly ASD and TD groups performed equivalently. By contrast, ASD adults reported lower empathy scores and higher levels of alexithymia symptoms compared to TD adults regardless of age. The difference between ASD and TD groups in self‐reported empathy scores was no longer significant when alexithymia was covaried (with the exception of the Perspective Taking subscore). Results suggest a possible age‐protective effect on ToM in the ASD group. In addition, empathy difficulties appear to be associated with alexithymia rather than ASD per se. Possible interpretations are discussed, and future directions for autism aging research are proposed. Lay Summary People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties with social understanding. Some age‐related studies in typical development have shown a decline in social understanding in older age. We investigated whether a similar pattern is present in adults with ASD. We found that understanding what someone is thinking was not worse in older versus younger autistic adults. Also, we reported further evidence suggesting that emotional empathy difficulties were related to difficulties with understanding one's own emotions rather than with autism itself. Autism Res 2021, 14: 911–920. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Purpose: Many individuals with autism experience social anxiety (SA), yet, to date, this has almost exclusively been investigated using quantitative research methods. We know very little about why individuals with autism perceive they develop SA, what they view the impact and consequences of symptoms to be, and which coping strategies they find helpful. Methods: Using a qualitative study design, six men with autism (aged 23-52 years old) participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Seven overarching themes were identified: (1) causal influences for SA; (2) anxietyprovoking social situations; (3) symptoms of SA; (4) chronicity; (5) coping; (6) impact; and (7) interventions. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to more fully establish why individuals with autism are vulnerable to developing SA, to inform development of targeted interventions.

Previous research has indicated that autistic adults experience higher rates of co‐occurring mental health difficulties and poorer quality of life (QoL) than their non‐autistic peers. Little is known, however, about these aspects in older age or whether younger and older autistic adults experience similar patterns This cross‐sectional study investigated potential age‐related effects on autism symptoms, self‐reported mental health, and QoL in younger and older autistic adults (n = 79, aged 19–71 years) compared to a non‐autistic control group (n = 57) matched for gender, age and IQ. Results showed that autistic adults had higher levels of self‐reported autism symptoms and poorer QoL than controls. There were no significant age effects on autism symptoms or on most self‐rated mental health symptoms. However, significantly more autistic adults in the younger versus older group scored above the clinical threshold for anxiety, somatoform disorders and eating disorders. Older autistic adults rated social QoL as significantly better than younger autistic adults; there was no significant age difference in the control group. Self‐reported QoL was best predicted by self‐ratings of severity of depressive symptoms in both groups. Further research is needed to track autism and co‐occurring mental health symptomatology across the lifespan, so that service provision can be tailored accordingly. Lay Summary Young autistic adults have reported more psychological difficulties and poorer quality of life (QoL) than the general population. We investigated whether these difficulties continue into older age. Autism symptoms and mental health problems were common in autistic adults, with no difference between age groups, except for anxiety, physical and eating problems. Although QoL was poorer in both younger and older autistic compared to non‐autistic adults, older autistic adults reported better social QoL than those who were younger.

Background: Previous studies have reported mixed findings regarding gender differences in suicidal behavior. This discrepancy may be partly attributable to common predictors of suicide risk, such as childhood trauma and anger, and may also be independent of gender. Objectives: The present study investigated gender differences in the impact of childhood trauma and current trait anger on suicide risk, in a group of young Turkish adults. We hypothesized that trait anger would mediate the association between childhood trauma and suicide risk, independently of gender. Participants and Setting: Participants were 589 university students (84.3% women) aged 18–34 years (M = 21.43, SD = 1.82). Methods: Gender group differences in suicide risk, history of childhood trauma, and trait anger as well as possible covariates (i.e., self-rated socio-economic status and academic performance) were assessed. Possible predictors of suicide risk in gender groups were examined. The role of trait anger as a mediator of the relationship between childhood trauma and suicide risk was also examined. Results: Results showed that men reported a higher suicide risk, history of childhood trauma, and trait anger than women. Early childhood trauma and current trait anger scores were significant predictors of suicide risk in both gender groups. Trait anger significantly mediated the relationship between early trauma history and risk for suicide, independently of gender. Conclusions: Study findings support early reports of the effects of childhood trauma and trait anger on suicide risk. It was suggested that preventive interventions for suicidal behavior and monitoring risk groups with aggressive tendencies and childhood trauma history may be important.

ÖZET Otizm spektrum bozukluğu (OSB), yaşam boyu süren nörogelişimsel bir bozukluktur. OSB'nin toplumdaki yaygınlığı kayda değer derecede yüksektir ve başta genetik olmak üzere bilişsel ve çevresel birçok faktörün OSB'nin ortaya çıkmasında etkili olduğu bilinmektedir. Günümüzde OSB tanısı halen davranışsal belirtilerin değerlendirilmesine dayanmaktadır. Bunun yanında, araştırmalar OSB'nin karmaşık etiyolojik, genetik ve fenotipik örüntülere sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Tüm bunlar göz ününde bulundurulduğunda, OSB belirtilerinin birbiriyle olan ilişkileri kadar söz konusu belirtilerin birbirinden bağımsız olarak da incelenmesinin önemi ortaya çıkmaktadır. Nörogelişimsel bir bozukluk olan OSB'nin anlaşılmasında bilişsel teorilerin katkıları oldukça fazladır. Özellikle, zihin kuramı, yürütücü işlevler disfonksiyonu ve merkezi bütünleşme, OSB'nin davranışsal belirtilerini anlamamızda büyük katkıları olan temel bilişsel teorilerdir. Bu makalede, OSB'yi anlamamızda büyük katkıları olan bu üç önemli bilişsel teori ve bu teorilerin OSB semptomlarıyla ilişkileri bakımından kendi aralarındaki örüntülere değinilmiştir.