Autistic traits are associated with difficulties in processing and adapting to new information, particularly in uncertain situations.
Individuals with higher autistic traits often experience challenges with cognitive flexibility and emotion regulation, which can lead to increased anxiety when faced with unpredictable circumstances.
The need for routine and predictability, common in autism spectrum disorder, may intensify feelings of fear and discomfort during times of widespread uncertainty, such as a global pandemic.
Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing effective support strategies and interventions for neurodiverse populations during crises, as well as for gaining insights into how autistic traits in the general population may influence responses to uncertain situations.
Bieczek, D., Ściślicka, A., Bobowska, A., Tomsia, F., Wilczyński, K. M., & Janas-Kozik, M. (2024). Relationship of autistic traits and the severity of fear of the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1260444. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1260444
Key Points
- Autistic traits and age were found to positively correlate with fear of the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population.
- Difficulties with attention switching, a key autistic trait, showed the strongest relationship with increased fear levels.
- The study used the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) to measure autistic traits and pandemic fear, respectively.
- While informative, the study had limitations, such as an overrepresentation of participants with high autistic traits and the use of a homogeneous sample.
- Understanding how autistic traits relate to pandemic fear has important implications for supporting neurodiverse populations during crises.
Rationale
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted daily life and caused widespread psychological distress.
Previous research has shown that individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), may be particularly vulnerable to heightened anxiety and fear during crises (Sideropoulos et al., 2022).
However, less is known about how subclinical autistic traits in the general population relate to pandemic fear.
Given that autistic traits exist on a continuum in the broader population, examining their association with COVID-19 fear could provide insights relevant to supporting neurodiverse individuals.
Additionally, understanding factors that influence pandemic-related fear is crucial for developing targeted interventions and support strategies.
This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the relationship between autistic traits, particularly difficulties with attention switching, and fear of the COVID-19 pandemic in a general population sample.
Method
Procedure
Participants completed an online questionnaire distributed via social media platforms. The survey included demographic questions, the AQ to assess autistic traits, and the FCV-19S to measure fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sample
- 214 participants from the general population in Poland
- Mean age: 23.78 years (range: 14-61 years)
- 59.81% female, 36.44% male, 3.75% preferred not to disclose gender
- 4.2% (n=9) scored ≥32 on the AQ, indicating high autistic traits
Measures
- Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): 50-item questionnaire assessing autistic traits across 5 domains (social skills, communication, imagination, attention to detail, attention switching)
- Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S): 7-item scale measuring emotional responses and fear related to COVID-19
Statistical Measures
- Spearman correlations
- Mann-Whitney U test
- Multiple regression analyses
Results
Hypothesis 1: Autistic traits will positively correlate with fear of COVID-19. Result: A weak but significant positive correlation was found between AQ scores and FCV-19S scores (r=0.16, p=0.01).
Hypothesis 2: Specific autistic traits will show stronger relationships with pandemic fear. Result: Difficulties in attention switching showed the strongest correlation with FCV-19S scores (r=0.16, p=0.02). Other AQ subscales did not show significant correlations.
Hypothesis 3: Age will be positively associated with fear of COVID-19. Result: A weak but significant positive correlation was found between age and FCV-19S scores (r=0.15, p<0.05).
Additional findings:
- Multiple regression analysis showed that AQ scores and age were significant predictors of FCV-19S scores (R²=0.1, p<0.0001).
- A second regression model found that the AQ attention switching subscale and age were significant predictors of FCV-19S scores (R²=0.1, p<0.000001).
Insight
This study provides evidence that higher levels of autistic traits, particularly difficulties with attention switching, are associated with increased fear of the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population.
The findings suggest that cognitive inflexibility and challenges in regulating emotions, which are characteristic of autism spectrum disorder, may contribute to heightened pandemic-related anxiety even in individuals without a clinical diagnosis.
The relationship between attention switching difficulties and pandemic fear is particularly noteworthy. This suggests that individuals who struggle to shift their focus or adapt to new situations may be more prone to fixating on pandemic-related threats, leading to increased fear and anxiety.
These results extend previous research on autism and pandemic responses by demonstrating that subclinical autistic traits in the general population are also relevant to understanding COVID-19 fear.
Future research could explore interventions targeting cognitive flexibility and emotion regulation to help individuals with higher autistic traits cope with pandemic-related stress.
Additionally, investigating how different aspects of the pandemic (e.g., social distancing, disrupted routines) specifically impact those with higher autistic traits could inform more tailored support strategies.
Strengths
This study had several methodological strengths, including:
- Use of validated measures (AQ and FCV-19S) to assess autistic traits and pandemic fear
- Inclusion of a general population sample, allowing for examination of subclinical autistic traits
- Analysis of specific autistic trait domains (e.g., attention switching) in relation to pandemic fear
- Consideration of multiple demographic factors in analyses
Limitations
This study also had several methodological limitations, including:
- Overrepresentation of individuals with high autistic traits (4.2% scored ≥32 on AQ) compared to general population estimates
- Homogeneous sample in terms of age, education, and geographic location (Poland)
- Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences
- Online survey methodology may have introduced selection bias
- Reliance on self-report measures without clinical assessment of autism spectrum disorder
These limitations impact the generalizability of the findings and highlight the need for more diverse and representative samples in future research on this topic.
Implications
The results of this study have several important implications:
- Support for neurodiverse populations: Understanding that higher autistic traits are associated with increased pandemic fear can inform the development of targeted support strategies for neurodiverse individuals during crises.
- Attention to cognitive flexibility: The strong relationship between attention switching difficulties and pandemic fear suggests that interventions focusing on improving cognitive flexibility may be particularly beneficial in reducing anxiety.
- Age-specific interventions: The positive correlation between age and pandemic fear indicates that older individuals may require additional support and tailored interventions to manage COVID-19-related anxiety.
- Public health communication: Recognizing that individuals with higher autistic traits may experience more fear during pandemics can inform more inclusive and effective public health messaging strategies.
- Mental health screening: The findings suggest that assessing autistic traits may be valuable in identifying individuals at higher risk for pandemic-related psychological distress.
- Crisis preparedness: Understanding how autistic traits relate to fear responses can inform broader crisis preparedness efforts, ensuring that support systems are in place for neurodiverse populations during future emergencies.
These implications highlight the importance of considering neurodiversity in public health responses and mental health interventions, particularly during times of widespread societal stress and change.
References
Primary reference
Bieczek, D., Ściślicka, A., Bobowska, A., Tomsia, F., Wilczyński, K. M., & Janas-Kozik, M. (2024). Relationship of autistic traits and the severity of fear of the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1260444. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1260444
Other references
Sideropoulos, V., Dukes, D., Hanley, M., Palikara, O., Rhodes, S., Riby, D. M., … & Van Herwegen, J. (2022). The impact of COVID-19 on anxiety and worries for families of individuals with special education needs and disabilities in the UK. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 52(6), 2656-2669. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05168-5
Keep Learning
Socratic questions for a college class to discuss this paper:
- How might the relationship between autistic traits and pandemic fear differ in countries with varying cultural norms or pandemic responses?
- What specific aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic might be particularly challenging for individuals with higher autistic traits, and why?
- How could public health officials use the findings of this study to create more inclusive crisis communication strategies?
- What ethical considerations should be taken into account when screening for autistic traits as a potential predictor of pandemic-related distress?
- How might the relationship between autistic traits and fear responses evolve over the course of a prolonged crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic?
- In what ways could the findings of this study inform the development of mental health interventions for neurodiverse populations during future crises?
- How might the overrepresentation of individuals with high autistic traits in the sample have influenced the study’s findings, and what strategies could future researchers use to obtain a more representative sample?
- What role might alexithymia, a condition often associated with autism spectrum disorder, play in the relationship between autistic traits and pandemic fear?
- How could researchers design longitudinal studies to better understand the causal relationships between autistic traits, attention switching abilities, and responses to societal crises?
- In what ways might the relationship between autistic traits and pandemic fear intersect with other factors such as socioeconomic status, education level, or access to mental health resources?
