Correlation Between Autism and Anxiety in Social Situations
CORRELATION OF ANXIETY IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Abstract
The study examined how individuals with autism often fail to successfully relate with others in social situations. Undergraduate Students of the University of Western Australia’s School of Psychology (N=472) participated in an online survey which included the Autism Quotient test (AQ), the Fear of Negative Evaluation Questionnaire (FNE) and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS). The purpose of this was to measure the likelihood of a correlation between a high score on the Autism Quotient test and high scores on both the Fear of Negative Evaluation Questionnaire and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale. It was predicted that individuals with autism would score high on the SIAS and FNE tests and therefore a link between autism and social anxiety could be established.
The Correlation of Anxiety in Social Situations and Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder The study examined how individuals with autism often fail to successfully relate with others in social situations. It is thought that either individuals with Autism were not interested in social activities or that individuals want to interact socially but lack the skills necessary for this. The term autism was originally introduced by the psychiatrist Kanner (1943) to explain a syndrome he observed in some of his child patients. Kanner identified the key features of autism, which include “impairments in social interaction and communication skills, coupled with unusual interest patterns and stereotyped behaviours.” (Schopler, E, Mesibov, G 1986 p6) He suggested that autism was an inborn fault, as he observed that symptoms were often present from a very young age. According to Simon Baron-Cohen “the core shortfall of autism is the autistic person’s incapability to use theory of mind.” (http://www.holah.co.uk/study/baroncohen/) Having a theory of mind is the capacity to recognize that other
Abstract
The study examined how individuals with autism often fail to successfully relate with others in social situations. Undergraduate Students of the University of Western Australia’s School of Psychology (N=472) participated in an online survey which included the Autism Quotient test (AQ), the Fear of Negative Evaluation Questionnaire (FNE) and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS). The purpose of this was to measure the likelihood of a correlation between a high score on the Autism Quotient test and high scores on both the Fear of Negative Evaluation Questionnaire and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale. It was predicted that individuals with autism would score high on the SIAS and FNE tests and therefore a link between autism and social anxiety could be established.
The Correlation of Anxiety in Social Situations and Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder The study examined how individuals with autism often fail to successfully relate with others in social situations. It is thought that either individuals with Autism were not interested in social activities or that individuals want to interact socially but lack the skills necessary for this. The term autism was originally introduced by the psychiatrist Kanner (1943) to explain a syndrome he observed in some of his child patients. Kanner identified the key features of autism, which include “impairments in social interaction and communication skills, coupled with unusual interest patterns and stereotyped behaviours.” (Schopler, E, Mesibov, G 1986 p6) He suggested that autism was an inborn fault, as he observed that symptoms were often present from a very young age. According to Simon Baron-Cohen “the core shortfall of autism is the autistic person’s incapability to use theory of mind.” (http://www.holah.co.uk/study/baroncohen/) Having a theory of mind is the capacity to recognize that other
References: Schopler, E., Mesibov, G., 1986 ‘Communication as a Social Problem in Autism’ in Social Behavior in Autism, Springer, North Carolina. “AS Psychology”, September 8 2009, Baron-Cohen et al [online] available from: http://www.holah.co.uk/study/baroncohen/ Bellini, S (2006) The Development of Social Anxiety in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities 21, 138-145