Cognitive Predictors of Self-Reported Camouflaging in Autistic Adolescents.
Stronger executive function predicts more self-reported camouflaging in autistic teens, so probe for masking even when scores look good.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Hull et al. (2021) asked autistic teens to fill out a camouflaging checklist.
The team also gave short executive-function tasks.
They wanted to see if better scores on those tasks predicted higher camouflaging.
What they found
Teens with stronger executive function did report more camouflaging.
The link was small and showed up only in total and compensation scores.
It did not appear in masking or assimilation parts of the checklist.
How this fits with other research
Day et al. (2021) extends the picture: the same teens who camouflage more also feel more depression, anxiety, and stress.
Jedrzejewska et al. (2022) adds context: autistic adolescents camouflage less on social media than face-to-face, so setting matters.
Delgado-Lobete et al. (2020) is the direct predecessor: it first showed gender gaps in camouflaging among adults, and the new teen data drop the age range downward.
Why it matters
If a teen scores well on EF tasks, do not assume social ease. Ask about camouflaging and check for hidden anxiety. Use the brief camouflaging questions in your intake. Pair them with mood screens. This quick step can flag teens who mask distress behind strong test scores.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Camouflaging involves masking and/or compensating for autistic characteristics and has been identified in autistic individuals through a variety of different methods. Individual variation in the extent, processes and outcomes of camouflaging has been reported in autistic adults, and there has been some investigation of camouflaging by autistic adolescents. This study was conducted to better understand how some of these individual differences emerge, by examining potential mechanisms (theory of mind, executive function, intelligence quotient and age) involved in camouflaging by 58 autistic adolescents aged 13-18 years (29 females, 29 males). Fewer executive function difficulties predicted greater use of total camouflaging strategies and the compensation subscale, but not the masking or assimilation subscales; no other predictors reached statistical significance. These findings suggest that individual differences in executive function ability may underlie variation in the use of camouflaging by adolescents. The total variance explained in the model was small, suggesting the need to examine other factors which may underpin camouflaging. The implications of this finding for the relationship between camouflaging and well-being are discussed, along with the distinction between attempts to camouflage and the efficacy of those attempts. LAY SUMMARY: Camouflaging involves hiding your autism or finding ways around difficulties in order to fit in during social situations. This study found that autistic teenagers with good executive function abilities camouflage their autism more than those who struggle with executive function (which includes planning, goal-direction and memory). This may have implications for teenagers' mental health and their social functioning.
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2021 · doi:10.1002/aur.2407