Exploring the mediating effect of camouflaging and the moderating effect of autistic identity on the relationship between autistic traits and mental wellbeing.
Assimilation camouflaging, not autistic traits, drives poor wellbeing in autistic adults.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Greenlee et al. (2024) asked 312 autistic adults to fill out online surveys. They measured autistic traits, mental wellbeing, and two kinds of camouflaging: assimilation (trying to pass as non-autistic) and compensation (using scripts or rules to fit in).
The team also asked how strongly each person identifies as autistic. They used stats to test if camouflaging explains the link between traits and wellbeing, and if autistic identity changes that link.
What they found
Autistic traits alone did not predict wellbeing. Instead, assimilation fully carried the effect: more assimilation meant worse wellbeing on every measure.
Compensation only mattered for positive wellbeing (hope, life satisfaction). Surprisingly, how strongly someone identified as autistic did not buffer or worsen any effect.
How this fits with other research
Ferenc et al. (2023) extends these results. They found that autistic adults who see autism as a natural brain difference (neurodiversity view) report higher self-esteem. Together the studies say: identity content matters for self-esteem, but identity strength does not protect against the harm of camouflaging.
Vassos et al. (2023) showed that stronger autism identity predicts preference for identity-first language. L et al. found no protective effect of that same identity, an apparent contradiction. The difference is outcome: language preference is about self-labeling; wellbeing is about daily stress from hiding traits.
Hedley et al. (2021) also used surveys and wellbeing scales with autistic adults, but focused on COVID-19 stress rather than camouflaging. Their data and L et al. agree that external stressors and internal coping styles both shape mental health.
Why it matters
Stop targeting "autistic traits" in mental-health treatment plans. Start measuring and reducing assimilation behaviors like forced eye contact or suppressing stims. Add brief camouflaging questions to your intake forms: "How often do you hide autistic behaviors in public?" Use the answers to write goals that build safe spaces for authentic behavior, not just anxiety management skills.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Mental health difficulties are prevalent among autistic adults. Camouflaging (behaving differently to fit in) may be a mechanism by which autistic traits and mental health difficulties relate to each other, but little research has considered the role of different facets of camouflaging. Additionally, autistic identity might buffer against camouflaging and mental health difficulties. This research aims to explore the mediating effects of camouflaging behaviours on the relationship between autistic traits and both positive and negative mental wellbeing, as well as how autistic identity might moderate the relationship between autistic traits and camouflaging, and also mental health. Data were available for 627 autistic adults, recruited through volunteer databases and social media. Participants completed measures of autistic traits, anxiety, depression, positive wellbeing, camouflaging behaviours (compensating for difficulties, masking, and assimilating/putting on an act) and autistic identity. Mediation and moderated mediation models were tested, applying 95% bootstrapped CIs (10,000 resamples) and including age, gender and diagnosis as covariates. There were no significant direct effects between autistic traits and mental wellbeing. Assimilation was a significant mediator of all mental wellbeing measures, and compensation was a significant mediator of positive wellbeing only. Autistic identity was not a significant moderator. Assimilation and compensation should be considered when offering psychological interventions to support mental wellbeing of autistic people. Additional research into external drivers of camouflaging (e.g. stigma) and mechanisms by which camouflaging impacts mental wellbeing, such as autonomy, authenticity, skill mastery and community, may identify other areas of support. Concurrently, societal change is necessary to reduce the need to camouflage.
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2024 · doi:10.1002/aur.3073