1. Exploring the autism spectrum: Moderating effects of neuroticism on stress reactivity and on the association between social context and negative affect
- Author
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Jeroen van Oosterhout, Claudia J. P. Simons, Machteld Marcelis, Therese van Amelsvoort, Kim van der Linden, RS: MHeNs - R2 - Mental Health, Psychiatrie & Neuropsychologie, RS: MHeNs - R1 - Cognitive Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, and MUMC+: MA Med Staf Spec Psychiatrie (9)
- Subjects
Adult ,Experience sampling method ,Autism Spectrum Disorder ,ANXIETY DISORDERS ,autism ,stress reactivity ,Social Environment ,03 medical and health sciences ,QUOTIENT AQ ,0302 clinical medicine ,mental disorders ,social context ,Developmental and Educational Psychology ,medicine ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,EMOTIONAL REACTIVITY ,VALIDITY ,Autistic Disorder ,Reactivity (psychology) ,Association (psychology) ,Social stress ,momentary assessment ,Neuroticism ,PERSONALITY ,05 social sciences ,Social environment ,ADULTS ,medicine.disease ,DEPRESSION ,COVARIATION ,DAILY-LIFE STRESS ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Affect ,Mood ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,RELIABILITY ,Autism ,Psychology ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Stress, Psychological ,050104 developmental & child psychology ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
Neuroticism is associated with increased stress reactivity. In autism spectrum disorders (ASD), emotional stress reactivity is increased and there is some evidence for an increased negative affect (NA) when with less familiar people. The aim of this study was to compare adults with ASD and controls on levels of neuroticism and on interactions between neuroticism and appraised stress or social context in models of NA. This is a cross-sectional observational study comprising a group of 50 adults with ASD and 51 controls. Experience sampling method (ESM) reports were collected for 10 days to measure daily life stress, mood, and social context. Multilevel regression analyses revealed significantly higher neuroticism levels in ASD than in controls. Adults with ASD who scored high on neuroticism showed a significantly stronger association between activity/social stress and NA (i.e., higher stress reactivity) than those with low scores. Furthermore, the association between neuroticism and NA was stronger when adults with ASD were with less familiar people compared with being alone or with familiar people. No consistent corresponding significant interactions were found in the control group. In conclusion, in ASD, neuroticism moderates the association between appraised stress and NA as well as the association between social context and NA.
- Published
- 2021