Alexithymia and intolerance of uncertainty predict somatic symptoms in autistic and non-autistic adults.
Fionnuala Larkin, Brianna Ralston, Sophie Jayne Dinsdale and 2 others
PMID 35841153WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic adults reported more physical symptoms than non-autistic peers, but this was not caused by autism itself.
Instead, difficulty identifying emotions and intolerance of uncertainty predicted the symptoms. Treating these psychological traits may help reduce physical distress in autistic patients.
Key findings
01Autistic adults reported significantly higher levels of somatic symptoms compared to non-autistic adults.
02In the final statistical model, autism diagnosis was no longer a significant predictor of somatic symptoms once psychological factors were included.
03Intolerance of uncertainty and alexithymia independently predicted higher levels of somatic symptoms, regardless of autism diagnosis.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was predominantly white, female, and highly educated, so the findings may not apply to autistic men or other demographic groups. The study relied entirely on self-report measures, which can be inaccurate, particularly for health care utilization and symptom severity. The cross-sectional design cannot prove causation; it is unclear if psychological traits cause somatic symptoms or if living with symptoms causes the traits. Participants were recruited via online support groups and universities, which may bias the sample toward those already engaged with autism communities or higher education.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest and received no financial support for this research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that autism causes somatic symptoms. The study found that autism diagnosis was not a significant predictor once psychological traits like alexithymia and intolerance of uncertainty were accounted for, meaning these traits, not autism itself, likely drive the physical distress.