Research shows high rates of anxious symptoms in people autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Finding factors related to the development of anxiety in ASD is necessary. Emotion regulation (ER) is associated with anxiety in ASD. Moreover, some studies find higher rates of anxiety in women with ASD. A total of 121 adults (M = 35.46 years, SD = 9.46) with ASD and intellectual disabilities were evaluated to verify moderating role of gender and mediating role of ER. A moderated mediation analysis supported the moderated role of gender in the relationship mediated by emotional dysregulation between ASD and anxiety. These findings suggest that interventions designed to prevent or reduce anxiety symptoms in women with ASD should include among their goals emotional regulation.
Lay Summary
If we want to reduce or prevent anxiety symptoms in women with ASD we must work on emotional regulation.
Purpose
Considering the high comorbidity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with externalizing disorders and that ASD is considered as a continuum, which implies the identification of it features in the whole population, the purpose of this paper is to know the characteristics of the association of externalizing symptoms in the population with ASD traits.
Design/methodology/approach
One hundred and seventeen postsecondary students participated in the study, providing responses to a battery of self-reported tests.
Findings
The existence of a significant association between ASD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (0.519; p < 0.01) was proved. Regression analyses showed that problems in executive functioning, working memory deficits and difficulties in the use of emotion regulation strategies predicted the presence of ADHD traits (F = 36.757, R2 = 62.3%, p < 0. 01) and impulsivity behavior (F = 18.249, R2 = 45.1%, p < 0.01).
Research limitations/implications
Externalizing symptomatology in people with higher ASD traits is extended to the general population. Future research should study other problematic behaviors, such as aggression or self-harm, to continue generating appropriate interventions.
Originality/value
The results reported reinforce the study of ASD as a dimensional disorder, in line with the latest advances in the classification of psychopathology. Considering which variables are behind the problematic behaviors allows interventions to be focused on these factors, contributing to their reduction and to the improvement of professional practices.
Many research studies have shown a prevalence of comorbid depressive symptomatology in people with an autism spectrum disorder. This prevalence is much higher than the rates in the normotypic population. The purpose of this study is to clarify the factors that moderate the association between depression and autism. One hundred and twenty-one adults (M = 35.46 years¸ SD = 9.46) with ASD and an intellectual disability participated in this study. The results showed that sex and age significantly moderate the relationship between ASD and depressive symptoms. Specifically, males aged between 30 and 49 were the most vulnerable group for the development of depressive symptoms. These results suggest that interventions designed to prevent or reduce depressive symptoms in people with ASD should consider that males aged 30-49 are more vulnerable than the rest of the population to suffering from a depressive disorder.
RESUMENDiversas investigaciones demostraron una notable prevalencia de la sintomatología depresiva comórbida en personas afectadas por un trastorno del espectro autista. Esta prevalencia es muy superior a la que se observa en población normotípica. Esta investigación tiene por objetivo esclarecer los factores que moderan esta asociación entre depresión y autismo. En este estudio participaron ciento veintiún adultos (M = 35.46 años¸ SD = 9.46) con TEA y discapacidad intelectual. Los resultados alcanzados permiten concluir que género y la edad moderan de forma significativa la relación entre el TEA y los síntomas depresivos. De forma más concreta, los varones con edades comprendidas entre los 30 y los 49 años resultaron el grupo más vulnerable para el desarrollo de la sintomatología depresiva. Estos resultados sugieren que las intervenciones diseñadas para prevenir o reducir los síntomas de depresión en los TEA deberían tener en cuenta que los varones entre 30 y 49 años son más vulnerables que el resto de la población a sufrir un trastorno depresivo.
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