Burnout can manifest as a loss of skills, reduced executive functioning, and increased difficulty managing daily life. Autistic individuals experiencing burnout may feel overwhelmed, disconnected, and unable to meet expectations.
The impact of burnout can be severe, leading to a decline in overall well-being, mental health issues, and a decreased ability to engage in activities that were previously manageable.
Recognizing and understanding autistic burnout is crucial for providing appropriate support and accommodations to improve the quality of life for autistic individuals. Ultimately it can help withrecovering from or preventing autistic burnout.
Key Points
Rationale
Factors contributing to burnout risk include social communication difficulties between autistic and non-autistic people leading to frustration, loss of agency, and unmet needs (Donaldson et al., 2022; Sarrett, 2018); overwhelming sensory stimuli; unexpected routine changes; lack of control over one’s environment (Muniandy et al., 2022); andmasking behaviorsto suppressautistic traitsand pass as non-autistic (Han et al., 2021; Pearson & Rose, 2021).
Preliminary studies suggest masking and other stressors can lead to autistic burnout (Higgins et al., 2021; Mantzalas et al., 2021; Raymaker et al., 2020), with consequences including inability to function, brain fog, dissociation, reduced executive functioning and emotion regulation, loss of skills, and increased suicidal ideation (Cook et al., 2021).
Despite informal discussion of autistic burnout in the autistic community since at least 2008 (Mantzalas et al., 2021), research is in its infancy.
Assessment tools are lacking, so this study comprehensively examined the psychometric properties of the ABM and CBI to evaluate their efficacy as screening measures for autistic burnout.
Method
This study examined the psychometric properties of the 27-item AASPIRE Autistic Burnout Measure (ABM) and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory personal and work scales (CBI-P and CBI-W) in autistic adults.
Sample
The sample included 238 autistic adults (specific demographics not provided).
Measures
Procedure
Participants completed the ABM, CBI-P, CBI-W, and measures of depression, anxiety, stress, fatigue, camouflaging, and wellbeing in an online survey.
Statistical Measures
Exploratory factor analysis, Spearman correlations, analysis of variance, receiver operating characteristics, sensitivity, specificity, and intra-class correlations were conducted.
Results
Insight
This study provides preliminary evidence that the ABM and CBI-P Emotional Exhaustion subscale are valid screening tools for detecting autistic burnout.
The strong correlations of the ABM and CBI-P with depression, anxiety, stress, and fatigue align with previous research characterizing the major features of autistic burnout (Raymaker et al., 2020).
The unexpected moderate correlations withcamouflaging/maskingand wellbeing warrant further investigation, as masking is considered a major risk factor for autistic burnout (Mantzalas et al., 2021).
The overlap between burnout and depression also requires clarification in future studies with larger samples.
Next steps should focus on testing the measures in larger, more diverse autistic populations, especially those with higher support needs who may be most vulnerable to burnout. Exploring early warning signs and preventive strategies is also critical.
Strengths
Limitations
Implications
Validating accessible screening tools for autistic burnout is a crucial step toward improving mental health care for autistic individuals.
However, the overlap between burnout and conditions like depression points to the need for comprehensive assessment. Burnout may increase risk for depression and anxiety, which are already more prevalent in autism (Hollocks et al., 2019). Routine screening for burnout could help predict and preempt deteriorating mental health.
More research is needed on how camouflaging contributes to burnout, as this may require tailored interventions to target social pressures and internalized stigma. Investigating resilience factors is also important for a strengths-based approach.
References
Primary reference
Mantzalas, J., Richdale, A. L., Li, X., & Dissanayake, C. (2024). Measuring and validating autistic burnout.Autism Research.Advance online publication.https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3129
Other references
Gillott, A., & Standen, P. J. (2007). Levels of anxiety and sources of stress in adults with autism.Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 11(4), 359–370.https://doi.org/10.1177/1744629507083585
Hollocks, M.J., Lerh, J.W., Magiati, I., Meiser-Stedman, R., & Brugha, T.S. (2019). Anxiety and depression in adults with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Psychological Medicine, 49(4), 559-572.https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291718002283
Mantzalas, J., Richdale, A. L., Adikari, A., Lowe, J., & Dissanayake, C. (2021). What is autistic burnout? A thematic analysis of posts on two online platforms.Autism in Adulthood.https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2021.0021
Moseley, R. L., Turner-Cobb, J. M., Spahr, C. M., Shields, G. S., & Slavich, G. M. (2021). Lifetime and perceived stress, social support, loneliness, and health in autistic adults.Health Psychology,40(8), 556.https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0001108
Raymaker, D. M., Teo, A. R., Steckler, N. A., Lentz, B., Scharer, M., Santos, A. D., Kapp, S. K., Hunter, M., Joyce, A., & Nicolaidis, C. (2020). “Having All of Your Internal Resources Exhausted Beyond Measure and Being Left with No Clean-Up Crew”: Defining Autistic Burnout. Autism in Adulthood, ahead of print.https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2019.0079
Keep Learning
Here are some potential discussion questions for a college class on this paper:
Saul McLeod, PhD
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
