TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding suicide risk in autistic adults
T2 - Comparing the interpersonal theory of suicide in autistic and non-autistic samples
AU - Pelton, Mirabel K.
AU - Crawford, Hayley
AU - Robertson, Ashley
AU - Rodgers, Jacqui
AU - Baron-Cohen, Simon
AU - Cassidy, Sarah
N1 - Acknowledgements: This research has been compiled with the kind support of the Coventry steering group who assisted in selecting and devising the materials for this study. This study also acknowledges the kind support of Paula Smith, database manager at the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge for assisting with contacting participants registered in the Cambridge Autism Research Database. We would also like to thank Autistica for advertising their study via their Discover network and thank all the participants for taking part. This study has been undertaken as a component of PhD study with financial support from Coventry University. Mirabel Pelton is grateful for the generous support of a grant from Funds for Women Graduates [Ref: GA-00109]. Sarah Cassidy was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council [grant number: ES/N000501/2], Autistica, the International Society for Autism Research and the Slifka-Ritvo Foundation during the course of this research. Simon Baron-Cohen was funded by the Autism Research Trust, the Wellcome Trust, the Templeton World Charitable Foundation, and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Cambridge, during the period of this work. He also received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (JU) under grant agreement No 777394. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA and AUTISM SPEAKS, Autistica, SFARI. His research was also supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care East of England at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. Hayley Crawford is supported by the NIHR Applied Research Centre West Midlands. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, NIHR or Department of Health and Social Care.
PY - 2020/10
Y1 - 2020/10
N2 - This study explored whether the Interpersonal Theory of suicide informs our understanding of high rates of suicidality in autistic adults. Autistic and non-autistic adults (n = 695, mean age 41.7 years, 58% female) completed an online survey of self-reported thwarted belonging, perceived burden, autistic traits, suicidal capability, trauma, and lifetime suicidality. Autistic people reported stronger feelings of perceived burden, thwarted belonging and more lifetime trauma than non-autistic people. The hypothesised interaction between burdensomeness and thwarted belonging were observed in the non-autistic group but not in the autistic group. In both groups autistic traits influenced suicidality through burdensomeness/thwarted belonging. Promoting self-worth and social inclusion are important for suicide prevention and future research should explore how these are experienced and expressed by autistic people.
AB - This study explored whether the Interpersonal Theory of suicide informs our understanding of high rates of suicidality in autistic adults. Autistic and non-autistic adults (n = 695, mean age 41.7 years, 58% female) completed an online survey of self-reported thwarted belonging, perceived burden, autistic traits, suicidal capability, trauma, and lifetime suicidality. Autistic people reported stronger feelings of perceived burden, thwarted belonging and more lifetime trauma than non-autistic people. The hypothesised interaction between burdensomeness and thwarted belonging were observed in the non-autistic group but not in the autistic group. In both groups autistic traits influenced suicidality through burdensomeness/thwarted belonging. Promoting self-worth and social inclusion are important for suicide prevention and future research should explore how these are experienced and expressed by autistic people.
KW - autism spectrum condition
KW - interpersonal theory of suicide
KW - perceived burden
KW - thwarted belonging
KW - suicide
KW - suicidality
KW - trauma
KW - capability for suicide
U2 - 10.1007/s10803-020-04393-8
DO - 10.1007/s10803-020-04393-8
M3 - Article
SN - 0162-3257
VL - 50
SP - 3620
EP - 3637
JO - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
JF - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
ER -