Social Impairment in the Autistic Spectrum: Real-Life Versus Online Perceived Social Skills

Abstract

Objectives:While socio-communicative difficulties are identified as a core diagnostic criterion for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), there is growing evidence that social difficulties could be context-dependent and could be overcome by the use of online communication. Beyond the spectrum, the symptoms of ASD can be met in the general population at a milder scale, leading researchers to extend their work to subjects with high autistic traits, also called the broader autism phenotype. The present study explored online versus real life social skills in the general population according to the level of autistic traits. Method:Seventy-one adults without ASD (from 18 to 55 years old) reporting using social networks completed a questionnaire assessing their real-life and online social skills. Their autistic traits were assessed using the autistic quotient (AQ). Results:Results showed a direct influence of the level of autistic traits on real-life and online social skills: participants having high autistic traits demonstrated a lower level of real-life social skills (r=-0.26, p<.05) and conversely higher online social skills (r=0.28, p<.05), suggesting that social difficulties might be context-dependent. Conclusions:While further studies are needed in a population with ASD, our results report preliminary evidence of the potential benefit of online social interactions within the autistic spectrum. Further studies in ASD could consider the potential for using an electronic mediator within social remediations.