Is social camouflaging associated with anxiety and depression in autistic adults?

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is inconsistent evidence for a clear pattern of association between 'camouflaging' (strategies used to mask and/or compensate for autism characteristics during social interactions) and mental health.

Methods

This study explored the relationship between self-reported camouflaging and generalised anxiety, depression, and social anxiety in a large sample of autistic adults and, for the first time, explored the moderating effect of gender, in an online survey.

Results

Overall, camouflaging was associated with greater symptoms of generalised anxiety, depression, and social anxiety, although only to a small extent beyond the contribution of autistic traits and age. Camouflaging more strongly predicted generalised and social anxiety than depression. No inter

SUBMITTER: Hull L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7885456 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature