Autistic traits and Quality of Life
Creators: name: Mason, David
Publisher: name: Open Science Framework
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Quantitative Psychology
subject: Social and Behavioral Sciences
subject: Psychology
subject: FOS: Psychology
subject: autism
subject: autistic traits
subject: quality of life

description: 3.1. A growing number of studies have explored variables that predict QOL for samples of diagnosed autistic adolescents/adults. These variables include bullying[1, 2], extraversion[1], gender[3, 4], age[4], employment[5], and perceived stress[6, 7]. Yet, to date, very few studies have explored the relationship between autistic traits and QOL in non-autistic samples. QOL was shown to be negatively correlated with autistic traits, and this relationship was mediated by coping style[8]. A separate study reported that the social dimension of autistic traits was associated with poorer mental well-being, and again this was mediated by coping style[9]. Finally, life history, reproductive strategy and autistic traits have been associated with QOL[10]. However, the role of alexithymia has not been explored in this context. High alexithymic traits do occur in the general population[11]; but the prevalence of these traits in autistic samples is typically higher[12]. In general population and clinical samples (for instance those with IBD, or TBI) alexithymia is associated with lower QOL[13, 14]. This study sought to explore the role of alexithymia in predicting QOL using two approaches. The first was to examine alexithymia and QOL for a sample comprised of autistic and non-autistic participants; where autistic traits were considered dimensionally. Second, categorical analyses between those who are autistic (i.e. report a diagnosis of autism, or self-identify as autistic), whilst controlling for some factors known to a) correlate with alexithymia, and b) predict poor QOL. References 1. Hong, J., et al., Factors associated with subjective quality of life of adults with autism spectrum disorder: Self-report versus maternal reports. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2016. 46(4): p. 1368-1378. 2. Leader, G., et al., An investigation of gelotophobia in individuals with a diagnosis of high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2018. 48(12): p. 4155-4166. 3. Kamio, Y., N. Inada, and T. Koyama, A nationwide survey on quality of life and associated factors of adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 2013. 17(1): p. 15-26. 4. Mason, D., et al., Predictors of quality of life for autistic adults. Autism Research, 2018. 11(8): p. 1138-1147. 5. Knüppel, A., et al., Quality of life in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder: Results from a nationwide Danish survey using self-reports and parental proxy-reports. Research in developmental disabilities, 2018. 83: p. 247-259. 6. Bishop-Fitzpatrick, L., C.A. Mazefsky, and S.M. Eack, The combined impact of social support and perceived stress on quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorder and without intellectual disability. Autism, 2018. 22(6): p. 703-711. 7. Bishop‐Fitzpatrick, L., et al., Participation in recreational activities buffers the impact of perceived stress on quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 2017. 10(5): p. 973-982. 8. Pisula, E., et al., Autism spectrum quotient, coping with stress and quality of life in a non-clinical sample–an exploratory report. Health and quality of life outcomes, 2015. 13(1): p. 173. 9. Stimpson, N.J., L. Hull, and W. Mandy, The Association Between Autistic Traits and Mental Well-Being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 2020: p. 1-18. 10. Pisula, W., et al., Exploratory Analysis of the Links among Life History, Reproductive Strategy, Autism-Spectrum Quotient, and Quality of Life. Psychology, 2018. 9(09): p. 2312. 11. Mattila, A.K., et al., Alexithymia and health-related quality of life in a general population. Psychosomatics, 2009. 50(1): p. 59-68. 12. Kinnaird, E., C. Stewart, and K. Tchanturia, Investigating alexithymia in autism: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Psychiatry, 2019. 55: p. 80-89. 13. Henry, J.D., et al., Cognitive and psychosocial correlates of alexithymia following traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychologia, 2006. 44(1): p. 62-72. 14. Iglesias-Rey, M., et al., Influence of alexithymia on health-related quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease: are there any related factors? Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology, 2012. 47(4): p. 445-453.