Autistic Traits and Anxiety: Two Studies Reveal Links Across Generations

Two recent studies have found associations between higher levels of autistic traits and increased anxiety, with one study focusing on younger adults and the other on middle-aged and older adults. The research, published in different journals, examined different populations and methodologies.

Study of Younger Adults in Japan

A study published in Scientific Reports examined the relationship between autistic traits, discomfort with uncertainty, and anxiety in 505 Japanese adults aged 20-39. Participants completed online surveys measuring autistic traits, discomfort with uncertainty, tendency to label emotions, and anxiety levels.

Methodology

Autistic traits were assessed using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, a 50-item questionnaire covering social skills, attention shifting, communication, imagination, and attention to detail. Intolerance of uncertainty was defined as a negative reaction to ambiguous or uncontrollable situations.

Findings

"Our findings suggest that discomfort with uncertainty is associated with a greater tendency to put feelings into words, and this is linked to lower anxiety levels."

The researchers observed that discomfort with uncertainty was associated with a greater tendency to put feelings into words, which was linked to lower anxiety levels.

Akitaka Fujii, first author and doctoral student at Nagoya University, stated: "We measured autistic traits using a 50-item questionnaire called the Autism-Spectrum Quotient which covers five areas: social skills, the ability to shift attention, communication, imagination, and attention to detail."

Masahiro Hirai, coauthor and associate professor, added: "Our findings suggest that discomfort with uncertainty is associated with a greater tendency to put feelings into words, and this is linked to lower anxiety levels."

Limitations

The study did not include individuals with a clinical diagnosis of autism, so findings cannot be directly applied to autistic people. The researchers cautioned that these are early findings and more research is needed to confirm causality. A follow-up study with clinically diagnosed autistic adults is underway.

Study of Older Adults in the UK

A separate study published in Nature Mental Health identified a link between high autistic traits and increasing anxiety in middle-aged and older adults. The research, led by King's College London and University College London, analyzed data from 5,270 adults aged 50-91 over eight years.

Anxiety Patterns

The study found that:

• 85.5% of participants had stable low anxiety
• 12.4% had stable low but slightly higher anxiety
• 2% experienced increasing anxiety, from mild to clinically significant levels

Participants with high autistic traits were four times more likely to be in the increasing anxiety group.

Context

Anxiety is common among autistic people, but most research has focused on younger individuals. King's College London estimates that up to 90% of older adults with autistic traits may lack a formal diagnosis. Researchers suggested that factors such as loneliness, social isolation, cumulative stress or trauma, and barriers to healthcare may contribute to worsening anxiety over time.

Implications

Both studies highlight the need for tailored mental health support for individuals with high autistic traits.

The researchers in the Japanese study suggested that offering the right words to describe feelings (e.g., "I think you might be feeling anxious about that") may help manage anxiety, potentially informing classroom and counseling approaches.

The UK study authors recommended adapted psychological therapies, such as tailored cognitive-behavioral therapy, to prevent mild anxiety from becoming severe.