Autistic traits, social camouflaging and mental health: Exploring the role of motivational processes

Abstract

<p>Recent research has reported a link between social camouflaging behaviours (i.e., coping strategies used to hide or mask autistic or socially atypical behaviours in social situations) and mental health problems in both autistic and non-autistic people. This study aimed to explore the mediating role of motivational processes – promotion (maximising gains related to needs for growth) and prevention (minimising losses related to needs for security) focus – between autistic traits, camouflaging behaviours, and mental health.</p><p>An online sample of 98 participants aged 17-67 years (M=26.2, SD=10.6; 71% females) from the general population completed self-report questionnaires measuring autistic traits (10-item Autism Spectrum Quotient), camouflaging behaviours (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire), motivational orientation (Regulatory Focus Questionnaire), and mental health symptoms (21-item Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale; Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale). Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationships between these variables.</p><p>One-fourth of the participants scored above the clinically significant threshold for autistic traits. We found positive associations between autistic traits and mental health symptoms (r=.40-.47), mediated by camouflaging behaviours (assimilation subscale) and lack of promotion focus (χ²(2)=3.10, p=.212; RMSEA=.076; CFI=.997, TLI=.967). Lack of promotion focus partially mediated the links between assimilation and symptoms of depression (β=-.46, SE=1.51, p<.001) and social anxiety (β=-.27, SE=3.62, p=.001), while fully mediated the links between assimilation and symptoms of anxiety (β=-.32, SE=1.29, p=.001) and stress (β=-.32, SE=1.51, p=.001). Our model did not support the mediating role of prevention focus and associations between other constructs of camouflaging (compensation and masking subscales) and mental health symptoms, either directly or indirectly.</p><p>Our preliminary results suggest a putative role of motivational orientation in explaining mental health risks associated with camouflaging behaviours, particularly attempts to fit in and pretend to be like others in social situations. These results on the mediating pathways warrant independent replication.<br></p><p><br></p>