Anxiety Sensitivity Domains are Differently Affected by Social and Non-social Autistic Traits

Chiara Baiano,Isa Zappullo,Lea Dell’ Aversana,Camilla Raimondo,Massimiliano Conson,Alessandro Di Rosa,Giovanna Esposito,Barbara Rauso,Monica Positano,Gennaro Raimo,Francesco Polito,Rosa Milo,Roberta Cecere,Agnese Turco

doi:10.1007/s10803-021-05228-w

Chiara Baiano, Isa Zappullo + Show 12 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05228-w

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Abstract

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is implicated in the development and maintenance of several psychopathological conditions. Non-clinical individuals with high autistic traits may develop anxiety disorders and depressive symptoms. Here, we investigated the relationships of autistic traits with AS dimensions and depression, considering sex. We referred to the two-factor model of the autism spectrum quotient to distinguish social and non-social autistic traits and assessed 345 university students on AS and depression scales. Results showed that only social autistic traits predicted general AS and anxiety-related concerns regarding social and cognitive domains. The present results emphasize the need of assessing multiple domains of anxiety in individuals on the autistic spectrum, differentiating social and non-social traits.

Highlights

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) refers to fear of anxiety-related sensations, such as increased heartbeat or breathing, feeling dizzy or faint, coming from erroneous beliefs that these sensations will produce harmful consequences (Reiss & McNally, 1985)
We investigated the possible interaction between sex and social and non-social autistic traits in the prediction of AS and depression by computing interaction variables (i.e., Sex × autism spectrum quotient (AQ) social traits; Sex × AQ non-social traits; AQ social traits × AQ non-social traits; Sex x AQ social traits × AQ non-social traits)
Results showed that social autistic traits and sex predicted ASI-3 total score indexing the degree to which an individual fears anxiety-related sensation based on the expectation that such sensations may have harmful consequences (“fear of fear”)

Summary

Introduction

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) refers to fear of anxiety-related sensations, such as increased heartbeat or breathing, feeling dizzy or faint, coming from erroneous beliefs that these sensations will produce harmful consequences (Reiss & McNally, 1985). Anxiety disorders comorbidity in autism spectrum conditions (ASC) has been reported in approximately 40% of individuals (Ketelaars et al, 2008; Meyer et al, 2006; Shtayermman, 2007; van Steensel et al, 2011). It is common for people with ASC to experience the same psychological and physical characteristics associated with anxiety in the general population, individuals with ASC frequently show increased social anxiety, panic attacks and obsessive–compulsive disorders (Bellini, 2004; Postorino et al, 2017; van Steensel & Heeman, 2017). Both university students and older adults with high autistic traits report more anxious and

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