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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Fiona Gullon-Scott
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2023, The Author(s). Purpose: Cognitive behaviour therapy based on the Clark and Wells (1995) model is a first-line treatment for neurotypical people seeking support for social anxiety. While autistic people frequently report high social anxiety, it is unclear how appropriate the model is for this population. Methods: Over 300 autistic and non-autistic adults completed an online survey measuring key variables of the Clark and Wells model (socially-related negative thoughts, safety behaviours, self-focused attention). Using multiple regression and structural equation modelling, we assessed whether these variables accounted for the link between autism and social fears. Results: In multiple regression, autistic people experienced greater social fears than expected based on Clark and Wells variables, and safety behaviours were less predictive of social fears in autistic people. In structural equation modelling, Clark and Wells variables only mediated half the link between autistic traits and social fears. In exploratory analysis, we found that distress relating to uncertainty was an additional variable that needed to be taken into consideration in the relationship between autistic traits and social fears. Conclusion: The Clark and Wells variables were relevant in autism, but did not fully explain elevated social fears in autistic people, which suggests that other factors are also important in accounting for social anxiety in autistic people. This means that therapy informed by the model may not be optimal for autistic people. We recommend further research developing adapted therapy for social anxiety in autistic people.
Author(s): Wilson AC, Gullon-Scott F
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Year: 2023
Pages: Epub ahead of print
Online publication date: 26/09/2023
Acceptance date: 10/08/2023
Date deposited: 09/10/2023
ISSN (print): 0162-3257
ISSN (electronic): 1573-3432
Publisher: Springer Nature
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-06108-1
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06108-1
PubMed id: 37751086
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