Abstract
Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) has recently been associated with increased risk of suicidality. However, no studies have explored how autistic traits may interact with current models of suicidal behavior in a non‐clinical population. The current study therefore explored how self‐reported autistic traits interact with perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness in predicting suicidal behavior, in the context of the Interpersonal‐Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS). 163 young adults (aged 18–30 years) completed an online survey including measures of thwarted belonging and perceived burdensomeness (Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire), self‐reported autistic traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient), current depression (Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale), and lifetime suicidality (Suicide Behavior Questionnaire‐Revised). Results showed that burdensomeness and thwarted belonging significantly mediated the relationship between autistic traits and suicidal behavior. Both depression and autistic traits significantly predicted thwarted belonging and perceived burdensomeness. Autistic traits did not significantly moderate the relationship between suicidal behavior and thwarted belonging or perceived burdensomeness. Results suggest that the IPTS provides a useful framework for understanding the influence of autistic traits on suicidal behavior. However, the psychometric properties of these measures need be explored in those with clinically confirmed diagnosis of ASC. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1891–1904. © 2017 The Authors Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Lay SummaryRecent research has shown that people with high autistic traits are more likely to attempt suicide. However, no studies have explored why. We found that people with high autistic traits were more likely to experience feelings that they do not belong in the world, are a burden on others, and depression, which may increase their likelihood of attempting suicide. These results suggest that promoting inclusion and independence in those with high autistic traits could help prevent people attempting suicide.
Highlights
Suicide is the leading cause of death for men and women in the UK aged between 20 and 34 [Office for National Statistics, 2015]
Simple mediation models explored whether the relationship between autistic traits and suicidal behavior were mediated by perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belonging, using SPSS custom dialogue box PROCESS [Field, 2009; Hayes, 2013], as in previous similar studies [e.g., Cole et al, 2013]
Hierarchical regressions explored whether autistic traits moderated associations between depression with burdensomeness and belonging, and whether associations between thwarted belonging, perceived burdensomeness and lifetime suicidality were attenuated at high levels of autistic traits
Summary
Suicide is the leading cause of death for men and women in the UK aged between 20 and 34 [Office for National Statistics, 2015]. Recent research indicates an association between autistic traits and suicidality in clinical samples with and without diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) [Cassidy et al, 2014; Takara & Kondo, 2014]. No studies have yet explored associations between autistic traits and suicidality in a non-clinical population, or how existing models of suicidality may interact with autistic traits (Cassidy and Rodgers, 2017). This is crucial to understand why people with high autistic traits may be at increased risk of suicide, and develop new effective assessment, support and treatment approaches for these individuals.
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