Is Camouflaging Autistic Traits Associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours? Expanding the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide in an Undergraduate Student Sample

Cassidy, S. A.; Gould, K.; Townsend, E.; Pelton, M.; Robertson, A. E.; Rodgers, J.

Abstract

The current study explored whether people who camouflage autistic traits are more likely to experience thwarted belongingness and suicidality, as predicted by the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS). 160 undergraduate students (86.9% female, 18–23 years) completed a cross-sectional online survey from 8th February to 30th May 2019 including self-report measures of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, autistic traits, depression, anxiety, camouflaging autistic traits, and lifetime suicidality. Results suggest that camouflaging autistic traits is associated with increased risk of experiencing thwarted belongingness and lifetime suicidality. It is important for suicide theories such as the IPTS to include variables relevant to the broader autism phenotype, to increase applicability of models to both autistic and non-autistic people.

Citation

Cassidy, S. A., Gould, K., Townsend, E., Pelton, M., Robertson, A. E., & Rodgers, J. (2020). Is Camouflaging Autistic Traits Associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours? Expanding the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide in an Undergraduate Student Sample. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(10), 3638–3648. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04323-3

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 26, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Dec 9, 2019
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Deposit Date: Dec 10, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 10, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
• Print ISSN: 0162-3257
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-3432
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 3638–3648
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04323-3
• Keywords: Autistic Traits, Broader Autism Phenotype, Camouflaging, Masking, Suicide, Suicidality, Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide, Autism Spectrum Conditions
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3525995
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10803-019-04323-3
• Additional Information: First Online: 9 December 2019