Abstract / Description of output
Background: Autistic adults experience more frequent suicidal thoughts and mental health difficulties than non-autistic people, but research has yet to explain how these experiences are connected. This study explored how anxiety and depression contribute to suicidal thoughts according to Interpersonal Theory of Suicide for autistic and non-autistic adults.
Methods: Participants (autistic adults n=463, 61% female; non-autistic n=342, 64% female) completed online measures of anxiety, depression, thwarted belonging, and perceived burdensomeness. Network analysis explored whether (i) being autistic is a risk marker for suicide; and (ii) pathways to suicidal thoughts are consistent for autistic and non-autistic adults.
Results: Being autistic connected closely with feeling like an outsider, anxiety and movement, which connected to suicidal thoughts through somatic experiences, low mood and burdensomeness. Networks were largely consistent for autistic and non-autistic people but connections from mood symptoms to somatic and thwarted belonging experiences were absent for autistic adults.
Conclusion: Autistic people experience more life stressors than non-autistic people leading to reduced coping, low mood and suicidal thoughts. Promoting belonging, reducing anxiety and understanding the role of movement could inform suicide prevention for autistic people. Research should accurately capture autistic lived experience when modelling suicide to ensure suicide prevention meets autistic needs.
Methods: Participants (autistic adults n=463, 61% female; non-autistic n=342, 64% female) completed online measures of anxiety, depression, thwarted belonging, and perceived burdensomeness. Network analysis explored whether (i) being autistic is a risk marker for suicide; and (ii) pathways to suicidal thoughts are consistent for autistic and non-autistic adults.
Results: Being autistic connected closely with feeling like an outsider, anxiety and movement, which connected to suicidal thoughts through somatic experiences, low mood and burdensomeness. Networks were largely consistent for autistic and non-autistic people but connections from mood symptoms to somatic and thwarted belonging experiences were absent for autistic adults.
Conclusion: Autistic people experience more life stressors than non-autistic people leading to reduced coping, low mood and suicidal thoughts. Promoting belonging, reducing anxiety and understanding the role of movement could inform suicide prevention for autistic people. Research should accurately capture autistic lived experience when modelling suicide to ensure suicide prevention meets autistic needs.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 426-442 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior |
Volume | 53 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 28 Mar 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2023 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- autism
- interpersonal theory of suicide
- network analysis