'Putting on my best normal': Social camouflaging in adults with autism spectrum conditions

Added on 31/10/2024

Type de contenu

Journal article of the type Scientific research ( ; english)

'Putting on my best normal': Social camouflaging in adults with autism spectrum conditions published in the journal "Journal of autism and developmental disorders" n°8, vol.47, 16 pages , doi: 10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5

=> Unrestricted access and free

Summary/Presentation

Camouflaging of autistic characteristics in social situations is hypothesised as a common social coping strategy for adults with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). Camouflaging may impact diagnosis, quality of life, and long-term outcomes, but little is known about it. This qualitative study examined camouflaging experiences in 92 adults with ASC, with questions focusing on the nature, motivations, and consequences of camouflaging. Thematic analysis was used to identify key elements of camouflaging, which informed development of a three-stage model of the camouflaging process. First, motivations for camouflaging included fitting in and increasing connections with others. Second, camouflaging itself comprised a combination of masking and compensation techniques. Third, short- and long-term consequences of camouflaging included exhaustion, challenging stereotypes, and threats to self-perception.


For your information:

(1) References in blue are resources listed on our site.

(2) Authors listed in this bibliography whose names are in color have published other resources referenced on the site. Clicking on the name allows you to see the list of resources they have published and shared on the site.

(3) Authors whose names are followed by an asterisk have publicly disclosed being autistic.


  • American Psychiatric Association (2013). "DSM 5". Washington: American Psychiatric Association."

  • T. Attwood (2006). "Asperger's and girls". Arlington, TX: Future Horizons, Inc.

  • T. Attwood (2007). "The complete guide to Asperger's syndrome". London: Jessica Kingsley.

  • S. Baldwin, D. Costley (2016). "The experiences and needs of female adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder". Autism, 20(4). doi:10.1177/1362361315590805

  • S. Bargiela, R. Steward*, W. Mandy (2016). "The Experiences of Late-diagnosed Women with Autism Spectrum Conditions: An Investigation of the Female Autism Phenotype". J Autism Dev Disord, 46(10). doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2872-8

  • C. Barker, N. Pistrang (2005). "Quality Criteria Under Methodological Pluralism: Implications for Conducting and Evaluating Research". American Journal of Community Psychology, 35(3-4). doi:10.1007/s10464-005-3398-y

  • C. Chevallier, C. Molesworth, F. Happé (2012). "Diminished Social Motivation Negatively Impacts Reputation Management: Autism Spectrum Disorders as a Case in Point". PLoS ONE, 7(1). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031107

  • J. CONSTANTINO (2011). "The Quantitative Nature of Autistic Social Impairment". Pediatric Research, 69(5 Part 2). doi:10.1203/pdr.0b013e318212ec6e

  • M. Dean, R. Harwood, C. Kasari (2017). "The art of camouflage: Gender differences in the social behaviors of girls and boys with autism spectrum disorder". Autism, 21(6). doi:10.1177/1362361316671845

  • J. Duvekot, J. van der Ende, F. Verhulst, G. Slappendel, E. van Daalen, A. Maras, K. Greaves-Lord (2017). "Factors influencing the probability of a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in girls versus boys". Autism, 21(6). doi:10.1177/1362361316672178

  • K. Dworzynski, A. Ronald, P. Bolton, F. Happé (2012). "How Different Are Girls and Boys Above and Below the Diagnostic Threshold for Autism Spectrum Disorders?". Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(8). doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2012.05.018

  • R. Elliott, C. Fischer, D. Rennie (1999). "Evolving guidelines for publication of qualitative research studies in psychology and related fields". British J Clinic Psychol, 38(3). doi:10.1348/014466599162782

  • M. Farley, W. McMahon, E. Fombonne, W. Jenson, J. Miller, M. Gardner, H. Block, C. Pingree, E. Ritvo, R. Arielle Ritvo, H. Coon (2009). "Twenty‐year outcome for individuals with autism and average or near‐average cognitive abilities". Autism Research, 2(2). doi:10.1002/aur.69

  • D. Glidden, W. Pierre Bouman, B. Jones, J. Arcelus (2016). "Gender Dysphoria and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature". Sexual Medicine Reviews, 4(1). doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2015.10.003

  • J. Gould, J. Ashton-Smith (2011). "Missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis? Girls and women on the autism spectrum". Good Autism Practice (GAP), 12(1), 34–41.

  • P. Howlin, L. Mawhood, M. Rutter (2000). "Autism and Developmental Receptive Language Disorder—a Follow‐up Comparison in Early Adult Life. II: Social, Behavioural, and Psychiatric Outcomes". Child Psychology Psychiatry, 41(5). doi:10.1111/1469-7610.00643

  • L. Hull, W. Mandy, K. Petrides (2017). "Behavioural and cognitive sex/gender differences in autism spectrum condition and typically developing males and females". Autism, 21(6). doi:10.1177/1362361316669087

  • K. Izuma, K. Matsumoto, C. Camerer, R. Adolphs (2011). "Insensitivity to social reputation in autism". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 108(42). doi:10.1073/pnas.1107038108

  • Y. Shin Kim, B. Leventhal, Y. Koh, E. Fombonne, E. Laska, E. Lim, K. Cheon, S. Kim, Y. Kim, H. Lee, D. Song, R. Richard Grinker (2011). "Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Total Population Sample". AJP, 168(9). doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.10101532

  • M. Kirkovski, P. Enticott, P. Fitzgerald (2013). "A Review of the Role of Female Gender in Autism Spectrum Disorders". J Autism Dev Disord, 43(11). doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1811-1

  • S. Kopp, C. Gillberg (1992). "Girls with social deficits and learning problems: Autism, atypical Asperger syndrome or a variant of these conditions". European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1(2). doi:10.1007/bf02091791

  • S. Kopp, C. Gillberg (2011). "The Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ)-Revised Extended Version (ASSQ-REV): An instrument for better capturing the autism phenotype in girls? A preliminary study involving 191 clinical cases and community controls". Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32(6). doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.05.017

  • N. Kreiser, S. White (2014). "ASD in Females: Are We Overstating the Gender Difference in Diagnosis?". Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev, 17(1). doi:10.1007/s10567-013-0148-9

  • M. Lai, M. Lombardo, B. Auyeung, B. Chakrabarti, S. Baron-Cohen (2015). "Sex/Gender Differences and Autism: Setting the Scene for Future Research". Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 54(1). doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2014.10.003

  • M. Lai, M. Lombardo, G. Pasco, A. Ruigrok, S. Wheelwright, S. Sadek, B. Chakrabarti, I., S. Baron-Cohen (2011). "A Behavioral Comparison of Male and Female Adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Conditions". PLoS ONE, 6(6). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0020835

  • M. Lai, M. Lombardo, A. NV Ruigrok, B. Chakrabarti, B. Auyeung, P. Szatmari, F. Happé, S. Baron-Cohen, I. (2017). "Quantifying and exploring camouflaging in men and women with autism". Autism, 21(6). doi:10.1177/1362361316671012

  • T. Lugnegård, M. Unenge Hallerbäck, C. Gillberg (2011). "Psychiatric comorbidity in young adults with a clinical diagnosis of Asperger syndrome". Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32(5). doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.03.025

  • W. Mandy, R. Chilvers, U. Chowdhury, G. Salter, A. Seigal, D. Skuse (2012). "Sex Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from a Large Sample of Children and Adolescents". J Autism Dev Disord, 42(7). doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1356-0

  • W. Mandy, K. Tchanturia (2015). "Do women with eating disorders who have social and flexibility difficulties really have autism? A case series". Molecular Autism, 6(1). doi:10.1186/2040-2392-6-6

  • T. May, K. Cornish, N. Rinehart (2016). "Gender Profiles of Behavioral Attention in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder". J Atten Disord, 20(7). doi:10.1177/1087054712455502

  • T. Oswald, M. Ann Winter-Messiers, B. Gibson, A. Schmidt, C. Herr, M. Solomon (2016). "Sex Differences in Internalizing Problems During Adolescence in Autism Spectrum Disorder". J Autism Dev Disord, 46(2). doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2608-1

  • J. Ritchie, J. Lewis, C. McNaughton Nicholls, R. Ormston (2014). "Qualitative Research practice: A guide for social science students and researchers". London: SAGE.

  • T. Taylor Rivet, J. Matson (2011). "Gender Differences in Core Symptomatology in Autism Spectrum Disorders across the Lifespan". J Dev Phys Disabil, 23(5). doi:10.1007/s10882-011-9235-3

  • E. Robinson, P. Lichtenstein, H. Anckarsäter, F. Happé, A. Ronald (2013). "Examining and interpreting the female protective effect against autistic behavior". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 110(13). doi:10.1073/pnas.1211070110

  • G. Russell, C. Steer, J. Golding (2011). "Social and demographic factors that influence the diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders". Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 46(12). doi:10.1007/s00127-010-0294-z

  • P. Shattuck, M. Durkin, M. Maenner, C. Newschaffer, D. Mandell, L. Wiggins, L. Lee, C. Rice, E. Giarelli, R. Kirby, J. Baio, J. Pinto-Martin, C. Cuniff (2009). "Timing of Identification Among Children With an Autism Spectrum Disorder: Findings From a Population-Based Surveillance Study". Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 48(5). doi:10.1097/chi.0b013e31819b3848

  • P. Shattuck, S. Carter Narendorf, B. Cooper, P. Sterzing, M. Wagner, J. Lounds Taylor (2012). "Postsecondary Education and Employment Among Youth With an Autism Spectrum Disorder". Pediatrics, 129(6). doi:10.1542/peds.2011-2864

  • S. Strunz, C. Schermuck, S. Ballerstein, C. Ahlers, I. Dziobek, S. Roepke (2017). "Romantic Relationships and Relationship Satisfaction Among Adults With Asperger Syndrome and High‐Functioning Autism". J Clin Psychol, 73(1). doi:10.1002/jclp.22319

  • X. Sun, C. Allison, B. Auyeung, S. Baron-Cohen, C. Brayne (2014). "Parental concerns, socioeconomic status, and the risk of autism spectrum conditions in a population-based study". Research in Developmental Disabilities, 35(12). doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.07.037

  • S. Tierney, J. Burns, E. Kilbey (2016). "Looking behind the mask: Social coping strategies of girls on the autistic spectrum". Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 23. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2015.11.013

  • P. Van Wijngaarden-Cremers, E. van Eeten, W. Groen, P. Van Deurzen, I. Oosterling, R. Jan Van der Gaag (2014). "Gender and Age Differences in the Core Triad of Impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis". J Autism Dev Disord, 44(3). doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1913-9

  • L. Holliday Willey (2015). "Pretending to be normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder)" (Expanded Edition). London: Jessica Kingsley.

  • C. Willig (2013). "Introducing qualitative research in psychology". Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.

  • L. Wing (1981). "Sex ratios in early childhood autism and related conditions". Psychiatry Research, 5(2). doi:10.1016/0165-1781(81)90043-3

This resource is cited in 18 resources referenced on the site:


 
Summarize/Comment on/Translate this reference?