Are autistic traits associated with suicidality? A test of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide in a non-clinical young adult sample.
In everyday young adults, higher autistic traits raise suicide risk through feeling like a burden and feeling left out.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team asked college students to fill out four online surveys. One survey measured autistic traits like social difficulty and rigidity. Other surveys asked about feeling like a burden, feeling left out, and suicidal thoughts.
The goal was to test a theory: autistic traits raise suicide risk by making people feel they don’t belong and are a load on others. No one was given a diagnosis; the study looked at traits in the general population.
What they found
Students with more autistic traits reported stronger suicidal thoughts. The link was explained by two feelings: “I don’t fit in” and “I’m a burden.” When these feelings were added to the model, the direct effect of autistic traits dropped, showing the feelings carry the risk.
How this fits with other research
Andrews et al. (2024) asked the same questions on a teen psych ward and also found high autistic traits linked to depression. Their clinical sample shows the pattern is not just a college quirk.
Hatzell et al. (2026) looked at over 8,000 autistic youth and found poor sleep doubled suicide-risk odds. Sleep trouble is a new pathway the 2017 survey did not test, so both pathways—sleep and IPTS feelings—can coexist.
Ferron et al. (2023) swapped the mediator: instead of burdensomeness, self-compassion softened the traits-to-distress link in autistic adults. Together the studies say: reduce burdensomeness, boost belonging, teach self-kindness, and fix sleep.
Why it matters
You can’t see suicidal thoughts on a behavior plan, but you can ask. Add two quick questions to your intake: “Do you feel you belong here?” and “Do you feel you’re a burden?” If the client scores high on an autism screener, target these feelings first. Simple belonging activities—shared interests, clear roles, peer mentors—may cut risk before it becomes a crisis.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
UNLABELLED: 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 SUMMARY: Recent 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.
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2017 · doi:10.1002/aur.1828