Repetitive Behaviours in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults: Associations with Sensory Sensitivity and Impact on Self-Efficacy.

This was a cross-sectional self-report survey, so it cannot show that stimming caused higher self-efficacy or that sensory sensitivity caused repetitive behaviours. Participants were recruited through autism support groups and social media, so the sample may over-represent people already interested in autism, sensory issues or stimming, and it is not representative of all autistic adults. Autism status was based on self-report and a screening measure, not confirmed diagnosis, so some participants may be misclassified. Only participants who said they stimmed answered the self-efficacy questions, and far fewer non-autistic participants did so (20%) than autistic participants (66% and 67%), so the self-efficacy findings apply to a self-selected subgroup. The sample was largely female (87%), with few male and non-binary participants, although repeating the analysis for women only gave the same pattern. Intellectual ability was not measured, and participants had to complete the questionnaires independently, which may exclude people with higher support needs. The study did not measure harmful stims such as self-injury, so positive self-efficacy ratings do not mean all repetitive behaviours are safe.

Do not read this as proof that stimming improves self-efficacy. The study is a self-report survey, only people who said they stimmed answered the coping questions, and it does not test whether stimming causes better coping. It also does not address self-injurious or harmful stims.