Psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial difficulties in young adults with autistic traits.
A 16-item SRS screener spots young adults at risk for broad mental-health and social problems.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers gave university students a 16-item Social Responsiveness Scale. The scale measures autism traits in the general population.
They compared students with high scores to peers with low scores. Then they asked about mood, anxiety, and daily life problems.
What they found
High-scoring students reported more depression, anxiety, and social trouble. The brief screener caught wide-ranging mental-health risk.
A short questionnaire flagged who might need deeper help. No extra tests were needed.
How this fits with other research
Stice et al. (2019) followed up with the same age group. They showed loneliness links autistic traits to later depression, adding a clear path.
Tu et al. (2016) moved the idea downward. In typical teen boys, higher SRS scores matched real brain differences, proving the scale tracks biology.
Jackson et al. (2025) moved it upward. They validated the newer SRS-2 in diagnosed autistic adults, showing the tool still works after college years.
Why it matters
You can use the 16-item SRS as a quick mental-health radar in young adults. If a client or student scores high, screen for mood, anxiety, sleep, and loneliness next. Early catches mean faster referrals and supports, even before a full autism evaluation is considered.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
A screening version of the social responsiveness scale (SRS) was administered to 1,847 university students to identify a subgroup reporting significantly greater autism traits relative to their peers (High SRS group). A group reporting minimal autism traits was also identified (Low SRS group) matched for age, gender, and attentional difficulties. We administered the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2nd edition (BASC-2), a comprehensive questionnaire designed to assess psychiatric symptoms and personality characteristics, to both groups. The high SRS group reported significantly more difficulties across the majority of areas, including depression/anxiety, interpersonal relationships, and personal adjustment. Thus, young adults reporting a greater degree of autistic traits also reported greater psychiatric difficulties across a wide psychosocial range.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2009 · doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0688-x