The Relationship Between Stress, Coping and Affective Distress Symptoms in Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Creators: name: Sinclair, Bethany
Publisher: name: The Australian National University
Year: 2021

description: Background: Young autistic people are reported to experience high levels of stress, anxiety and depression. However, there is little empirical research examining this, or identifying effective coping strategies. This research project aimed to address these gaps in the literature by exploring four questions; a) were the psychometric measures selected for this project appropriate measures of young autistic people's experience of stress, affective distress and coping; b) did young people with ASD experience stressors, stress and affective distress differently than their neurotypical peers; c) what coping methods (including social support utilization) did they employ to deal with the stressors they encounter; and d) which coping strategies are most effective at buffering the impact of stress on affective distress? Method: In the pilot study the Stress Survey Schedule, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, Reasons Why People with Asperger's Syndrome Feel Sad or Depressed and Brief COPE were administered to autistic adolescents. Interviews solicited feedback from adolescents and their parent/s regarding their experiences of stress, affective distress and coping, which informed the amendment of scales for the main study. Eight adolescents with ASD (aged 12-19 years, mean = 14.6 years) and nine parents participated. In the main study, participants completed the amended scales, Autism-Spectrum Quotient- Adolescent version and Interpersonal Support Evaluation List. Stress, affective distress symptoms and coping strategy use and effectiveness were compared in autistic participants to neurotypical peers. Individual coping strategies were then evaluated as statistical moderators of the stress-affective distress relationship in young autistic people. The ASD group consisted of 63 young people (aged 12-22 years, mean = 16.0), and the two neurotypical groups consisted of 284 young people (aged 12-22 years, mean = 18.7 years) and 65 young people with a diagnosed mental health disorder (aged 18-20 years, mean = 18.7 years). Data from the pilot study and the main study was used to investigate reliability and validity of the RPAD. Results: Minor adjustments were made to the scales, with a focus on simplifying language, and the RPAD was validated for use with autistic individuals. All sources of stress assessed generated greater stress responses for autistic individuals than their peers, with change, sensory/personal contact and unpleasant experiences causing the greatest stress. They reported significantly greater stress and anxiety than both neurotypical groups and more depression symptoms than peers without a mental health disorder/s. In regard to coping strategies, participants with ASD used more avoidant coping and less approach coping, and perceived avoidant coping to be more effective than neurotypical peers. Only exercise moderated the stress-anxiety relationship in the ASD group, whilst many strategies moderated the stress-depression relationship. Conclusion: Clinically, the results point to strategies that can be incorporated into treatment for young autistic people, as well as contributing to existing empirical evidence. They may find approach coping strategies to be beneficial in reducing the potential for depression under low to moderate stress conditions, whereas avoidant coping may be more effective under high stress conditions. Limitations of the studies and directions for future research are discussed.