Understanding Camouflaging as a Response to Autism-Related Stigma: A Social Identity Theory Approach.
Ella Perry, William Mandy, Laura Hull and 1 others
PMID 33788076WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic adults who felt more stigma camouflaged autistic traits more.
Camouflaging did not explain the link between stigma and lower wellbeing. Both identifying with autism and distancing from it were associated with camouflaging.
Key findings
01Higher perceived stigma predicted more self-reported camouflaging.
02Camouflaging did not mediate the relationship between stigma and wellbeing.
03Greater individualistic strategy use and greater collective strategy use both predicted more camouflaging.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The sample was mostly White, female and university educated, so the findings may not apply to autistic people with additional support needs or from ethnic minority backgrounds. Participants were recruited through social media and autism community groups, which may attract people with stronger autistic identification. The study used one online survey at one time point and self-report, so it cannot show what caused what. The stigma measure had questionable reliability and was adapted from disability literature. Funding limitations meant the study lacked deeper autistic involvement. Diagnoses were self-reported and not independently verified. The effects were small throughout. It is unclear whether camouflaging responds to stigma about autistic identity or stigma about autistic behaviours.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that reducing camouflaging will improve wellbeing. The study measured associations at one time point, and the pathway through camouflaging was not supported.