Social camouflaging refers to strategies individualsuse to mask or compensatefor social differences in order to fit in with societal norms.
In autism, this masking may involve suppressing stimming behaviors, forcing eye contact, or using scripted responses in social situations.
For those withsocial anxiety, camouflaging might include hiding physical symptoms of anxiety, overcompensating in social interactions, or avoiding situations that trigger anxiety.
While camouflaging can help individuals navigate social environments, it often comes at a cost. Consequences may include increased stress, exhaustion, and burnout. It can lead to delayed ormissed diagnoses, especially in autism.
Prolonged camouflaging may contribute to identity confusion, low self-esteem, and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Understanding these strategies and their impacts is crucial for improving support and interventions for both autism and social anxiety.
Key Points
Rationale
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) often co-occur, presenting challenges in differential diagnosis and understanding of social behaviors (Rosen et al., 2018).
Previous research has highlighted the impact of camouflaging on mental health and well-being (Cook et al., 2021), but the specific relationships between camouflaging, autistic traits, social anxiety symptoms, and public stigma across ASD and SAD populations are not well understood.
By examining these relationships, the research seeks to provide insights that could inform more accuratediagnostic processesand targeted interventions for individuals with ASD, SAD, or both conditions.
Method
The study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional design using online surveys and standardized measures.
Participants were recruited through online autism groups, mental health facilities, and outpatient departments in Poland.
Procedure
Participants completed an online form via LimeSurvey, providing informed consent and demographic information.
They then completed several standardized questionnaires measuring camouflaging, autistic traits, autistic burnout, social anxiety symptoms, and perceived public stigma.
Sample
The study included 254 participants:
Measures
Statistical measures
Results
Hypothesis 1:There will be differences in social camouflaging features, autistic traits, autistic burnout, social anxiety symptoms, and public stigma among ASD, SAD, and ASD+SAD groups.
Results:
Hypothesis 2:Associations and determinants of camouflaging will be based on symptomatology and social contexts rather than mere diagnosis.
Insight
This study provides valuable insights into the complex relationships between social camouflaging, autistic traits, social anxiety, and public stigma across ASD and SAD populations.
This challenges the notion that camouflaging is unique to autism and highlights the importance of considering these strategies in a broader context of social adaptation.
For instance, the higher levels of compensation in ASD groups and higher levels of masking in SAD groups suggest that different underlying mechanisms may be at play in each condition.
The significant relationship between camouflaging and autistic burnout across groups emphasizes the potential negative consequences of these adaptive strategies, regardless of diagnosis. This finding has important implications for understanding the long-term effects of social camouflaging on mental health and well-being.
Future research could focus on longitudinal studies to examine the causal relationships between camouflaging, social anxiety, and burnout over time.
Additionally, investigating the effectiveness of interventions targeting specific camouflaging strategies in reducing burnout and improving social functioning across different diagnostic groups would be valuable.
Strengths
This study had several methodological strengths, including:
Limitations
This study also had some methodological limitations, including:
These limitations impact the generalizability of the findings to other cultural contexts and demographic groups. The cross-sectional nature of the study prevents drawing conclusions about the direction of relationships between variables over time.
Implications
The results of this study have significant implications for clinical practice and understanding of social adaptation strategies in ASD and SAD.
The finding that camouflaging is not unique to autism suggests that clinicians should consider these strategies when working with individuals with social anxiety, potentially leading to more accurate diagnoses and targeted interventions.
The strong relationship between camouflaging and autistic burnout highlights the need for interventions that address the potential negative consequences of these adaptive strategies. Clinicians may need to help individuals balance the perceived benefits of camouflaging with its potential costs to mental health and well-being.
The varied patterns of camouflaging across groups (e.g., higher compensation in ASD, higher masking in SAD) suggest that interventions may need to be tailored to address specific types of camouflaging strategies depending on an individual’s diagnosis and presentation.
The role of public stigma in predicting social anxiety and avoidance emphasizes the importance of addressing societal attitudes and misconceptions about neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions.
Public education and anti-stigma campaigns may be crucial in reducing the perceived need for camouflaging and improving overall outcomes for individuals with ASD and SAD.
Variables that influence the results include cultural context, gender (with a predominantly female sample), and the presence of comorbid conditions. Future research should explore how these factors moderate the relationships between camouflaging, social anxiety, and burnout.
References
Primary reference
Pyszkowska, A. (2024). It is more anxiousness than role-playing: Social camouflaging conceptualization among adults on the autism spectrum compared to persons with social anxiety disorder.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.Advance online publication.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06416-0
Other references
Cook, J., Hull, L., Crane, L., & Mandy, W. (2021). Camouflaging in autism: A systematic review.Clinical psychology review,89, 102080.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102080
Hull, L., Petrides, K. V., Allison, C., Smith, P., Baron-Cohen, S., Lai, M. C., & Mandy, W. (2017). “Putting on my best normal”: Social camouflaging in adults with autism spectrum conditions.Journal of autism and developmental disorders,47, 2519-2534.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5
Rosen, T. E., Mazefsky, C. A., Vasa, R. A., & Lerner, M. D. (2018). Co-occurring psychiatric conditions in autism spectrum disorder.International review of psychiatry,30(1), 40-61.https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2018.1450229
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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.
