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Autistic Characteristics, Cognitive Impairment, and Sex as Predictors of Anxiety and Depression among Autistic Youth.

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Title: Autistic Characteristics, Cognitive Impairment, and Sex as Predictors of Anxiety and Depression among Autistic Youth.
Authors: Long, Erin E. (AUTHOR), Johnson, Mary F. (AUTHOR), Carpenter, Laura A. (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. Nov2025, Vol. 55 Issue 11, p4018-4032. 15p.
Subjects: Mental depression risk factors, Risk assessment, Cross-sectional method, Pearson correlation (Statistics), Research funding, T-test (Statistics), Autism, Sex distribution, Parent-child relationships, Questionnaires, Anxiety, Descriptive statistics, Parent attitudes, Cognition disorders, Child Behavior Checklist, Asperger's syndrome, Data analysis software, Regression analysis, Psychosocial factors
Abstract: Although it is well established that autistic youth are at high risk for anxiety and depression, factors associated with heightened risk within this population are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether autistic characteristics and cognitive impairment interact to predict anxiety and depression symptoms, and whether the impacts of autistic characteristics and cognitive impairment on anxiety and depression differ for male and female children. Participants comprised 7989 youth (M = 11.23 years) enrolled in SPARK, a national cohort of autistic individuals. Autistic characteristics were assessed via the Social Communication Questionnaire. Anxiety and depression were assessed via the Child Behavior Checklist. Linear regressions were conducted to examine associations between autistic characteristics, cognitive impairment, and symptoms and to test for interactions. The effect of parent-reported autistic characteristics on anxiety was stronger for males than for females, while the effect of cognitive impairment on anxiety was stronger for females than for males. A different pattern was observed for depression. The effect of autistic characteristics on depression was the same for males and females, while cognitive impairment was not associated with depression per parent report. Findings indicate that both male and female children with high levels of autistic characteristics are susceptible to experiencing anxiety and depression, and that autistic female children with intact cognitive abilities are uniquely vulnerable to experiencing anxiety based on parent report. Results have implications for the prevention of internalizing problems in autistic youth, and highlight future directions for longitudinal work examining mechanisms of comorbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Autistic Characteristics, Cognitive Impairment, and Sex as Predictors of Anxiety and Depression among Autistic Youth.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Autism+%26+Developmental+Disorders%22">Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 55 Issue 11, p4018-4032. 15p.
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  Data: Although it is well established that autistic youth are at high risk for anxiety and depression, factors associated with heightened risk within this population are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether autistic characteristics and cognitive impairment interact to predict anxiety and depression symptoms, and whether the impacts of autistic characteristics and cognitive impairment on anxiety and depression differ for male and female children. Participants comprised 7989 youth (M = 11.23 years) enrolled in SPARK, a national cohort of autistic individuals. Autistic characteristics were assessed via the Social Communication Questionnaire. Anxiety and depression were assessed via the Child Behavior Checklist. Linear regressions were conducted to examine associations between autistic characteristics, cognitive impairment, and symptoms and to test for interactions. The effect of parent-reported autistic characteristics on anxiety was stronger for males than for females, while the effect of cognitive impairment on anxiety was stronger for females than for males. A different pattern was observed for depression. The effect of autistic characteristics on depression was the same for males and females, while cognitive impairment was not associated with depression per parent report. Findings indicate that both male and female children with high levels of autistic characteristics are susceptible to experiencing anxiety and depression, and that autistic female children with intact cognitive abilities are uniquely vulnerable to experiencing anxiety based on parent report. Results have implications for the prevention of internalizing problems in autistic youth, and highlight future directions for longitudinal work examining mechanisms of comorbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10803-024-06406-2
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 4018
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Mental depression risk factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Risk assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cross-sectional method
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pearson correlation (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: T-test (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sex distribution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parent-child relationships
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parent attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cognition disorders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Behavior Checklist
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Asperger's syndrome
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Regression analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychosocial factors
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Autistic Characteristics, Cognitive Impairment, and Sex as Predictors of Anxiety and Depression among Autistic Youth.
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Long, Erin E.
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            NameFull: Johnson, Mary F.
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            NameFull: Carpenter, Laura A.
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            – D: 01
              M: 11
              Text: Nov2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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