Sensory Overresponsivity, Loneliness, and Anxiety in Taiwanese Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Ya-Cing Syu,Ling-Yi Lin

doi:10.1155/2018/9165978

Ya-Cing Syu, Ling-Yi Lin

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9165978

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Abstract

Purpose Sensory overresponsiveness is highly prevalent in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and typically persist into adulthood. However, the role of sensory processing difficulties in influencing emotional well-being among adults with ASD remains unclear. Additionally, the associations between sensory overresponsiveness, anxiety, and loneliness are yet to be examined among adults with ASD. Therefore, to address these critical gaps in the literature, we aimed to investigate the relationships among sensory avoiding, anxiety, and loneliness in a sample of adults with ASD. Participants Seventy adults (age, 20–39 years) completed three self-reported measures. All participants had a documented diagnosis of ASD and had normal IQ. Methods Sensory processing, loneliness, and anxiety were assessed with the Adult Sensory Profile, short-form UCLA loneliness scale, and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Results Autism spectrum traits and sensory avoiding were associated with anxiety and loneliness. Participants who experienced sensory avoiding more frequently reported higher anxiety and feelings of loneliness, with loneliness mediating the relationship between sensory avoiding and anxiety. More anxiety symptoms in participants with greater sensory avoiding were associated with their higher level of loneliness. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the relationships existed between sensory processing difficulties, loneliness, and anxiety among adults with ASD. Interventions regarding sensory processing difficulties and emotional well-being are substantial need for adults with ASD, and our results highlight the importance of sensory overresponsiveness and anxiety in evaluating and improving the psychological well-being of adults with ASD.

Highlights

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by problems with communication and social interaction and repetitive body movements or behaviors [1]
Atypical sensory processing is considered a core feature of ASD, and sensory features have been included in the criteria for ASD in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [1]
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship among sensory avoiding, anxiety, and loneliness in adults with ASD

Summary

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by problems with communication and social interaction and repetitive body movements or behaviors [1]. People experience and process the sensory stimuli from the environment and the body itself continually. Dunn constructed a model using the relationship between neuroscience and behavior concepts to illustrate the way that people manage, process the stimuli, and elicit responses [2]. People frequently sense most of the stimuli and trigger the response; on the contrary, people with high neurological thresholds will often overlook the stimuli that others may notice [3]. Another critical construct is the behavior pattern that people perform after they take in and process the sensory inputs [2]. A person may use a passive or active self-regulatory strategy reacting to the things happening around them [3]

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