A Preliminary Investigation Into the Relationship Between Autistic Traits and Self-Compassion

Compassion-focused therapy with autistic adults

Some autistic adults experience repeated adverse events, including rejection, victimization and stigmatization. They also describe others being critical and negatively judging them, such as for how they socially interact or for expressing passion for particular interests. The impact of these adverse events can be substantial, including increasing vulnerability for poorer mental health, and contributing to development of negative self beliefs (such as "I am different" or "I do not fit in") and shame-based difficulties. Not all evidence-based psychological therapies are well-received by autistic people, or effective. Given high rates of self-harm and suicidality, finding acceptable and effective therapies for autistic adults is paramount. Here, writing as autistic and non-autistic clinicians and researchers, we outline the theoretical principles of compassion-focused theory and therapy (CFT). We propose that: (1) compassion-focused theory can provide a useful framework for conceptualizing shame-based difficulties some autistic adults experience; (2) CFT can be appropriate for addressing these; and (3) there is an impetus for practitioners to adopt compassion-focused approaches when supporting autistic adults.

Longitudinal Associations Between Autistic Traits, Self-compassion, Anxiety and Depression in Autistic and Non-autistic Adults Without Intellectual Disability

PURPOSE

Previous cross-sectional research suggests self-compassion may mediate associations between autistic traits and mental health in autistic and non-autistic adults. However, no research to date has examined these relationships longitudinally. In this study, we used a cross-lagged panel analysis to examine correlations over time between autistic traits, self-compassion, and anxiety/depression.

METHODS

Participants were from the UK and included autistic (n = 228 at T1, n = 156 at T2, and n = 165 at T3) and non-autistic adults (n = 228 at T1, n = 122 at T2, and n = 124 at T3) without intellectual disability. Participants were recruited through an online participation platform and completed demographics, the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at baseline (T1), 6 months (T2), and 12 months (T3).

RESULTS

In the autistic sample, negative correlations were observed between self-compassion and subsequent anxiety/depression across all models and timepoints, and these relationships were not reciprocal (i.e., earlier depression and anxiety did not predict future self-compassion). In the non-autistic sample, the findings generally suggested bi-directional relationships between self-compassion and anxiety/depression. In both groups, an indirect pathway between T1 autistic traits and T3 anxiety/depression via T2 self-compassion was confirmed.

CONCLUSION

Considering the high prevalence of anxiety and depression among autistic people, and that self-compassion can be cultivated through practice, these findings suggest that self-compassion could be a useful therapeutic target to promote mental health in the autistic population.

"Self-compassion changed my life": The self-compassion experiences of autistic and non-autistic adults and its relationship with mental health and psychological wellbeing

Self-compassion is a gentle way of relating to oneself, linked to a host of mental health benefits in non-autistic people. Although many autistic individuals report high anxiety and depression symptoms, no research to-date has examined the self-compassion experiences of autistic individuals and determined if self-compassion is associated with psychopathology. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to address this research gap. The participants (153 autistic and 93 non-autistic adults) completed on online survey and 11 autistic participants were also interviewed. Autistic participants reported significantly lower self-compassion than non-autistic adults, and in both groups, those with higher self-compassion reported higher psychological wellbeing and lower depression symptoms. Demographic predictors of self-compassion were identified. These findings have both clinical and research implications.

The indirect effect of self-compassion in the association between autistic traits and anxiety/depression: A cross-sectional study in autistic and non-autistic adults

This study followed a pre-registered analysis plan with the aim to investigate whether autistic traits and self-compassion are correlated in autistic adults, and to test an indirect effect of autistic traits on anxiety/depression via self-compassion. We present the findings of an online survey of 456 participants ( n = 228 autistic adults, n = 228 non-autistic adults) who completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Lower self-compassion was reported by autistic participants compared to non-autistic participants, and a negative correlation was found between autistic traits and self-compassion in both groups. Furthermore, an indirect association between autistic traits and anxiety/depression via self-compassion was observed in both samples. Considering that many autistic people experience co-occurring anxiety and depression, and that self-compassion is a skill that can be cultivated with practice, the findings of this study suggest that self-compassion may be a modifiable factor that could improve the mental health of this population.

Lay abstract

Previous research on non-autistic adults suggests self-compassion may serve to reduce mental health problems and promote psychological well-being. Correlations between autistic traits and self-compassion have been observed in non-clinical populations. In this study, we were interested in extending previous research by exploring relationships between autistic traits, self-compassion and anxiety/depression in autistic adults without intellectual disability. The findings revealed that on average autistic people reported lower self-compassion than non-autistic people. Once we accounted for levels of self-compassion in our statistical model, this resulted in a complete loss of statistical significance in the relationships between autistic traits and anxiety/depression. Self-compassion may be a useful target for clinical intervention in autistic adults with co-occurring mental health difficulties.