Self-focused attention and depressive symptoms in adults with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD)
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Authors
Colleges, School and Institutes
External organisations
- Queen's University Belfast
- South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland
Abstract
Adults with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) are at high risk of developing comorbid depressive symptoms and in the general population self-focused attention has been associated with depression. Here, we aimed to examine the relationships between aspects of self-focused attention and symptoms of depression in individuals with a diagnosis of ASD. 113 adults with a diagnosis of ASD completed self-report questionnaires. Results found that higher levels of brooding, and to a lesser degree, reflection predicted increased depressive symptoms. However, higher levels of private self-consciousness actually predicted decreased depressive symptoms. Differential relationships were observed for males and females. The current study highlights the importance of using a multidimensional approach to examining self-focused attention in ASD, and its important relationship with depression.
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 692–703 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders |
Volume | 49 |
Early online date | 14 Sep 2018 |
Publication status | Published - 15 Feb 2019 |
Keywords
- rumination, public self-consciousness, Autistic spectrum disorder, Depression, brooding, reflection, private self-consciousness