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Autistic Adults Avoid Unpredictability in Decision-Making.

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Title: Autistic Adults Avoid Unpredictability in Decision-Making.
Authors: Macchia, Ana (AUTHOR), Albantakis, Laura (AUTHOR), Zebhauser, Paul Theo (AUTHOR), Brandi, Marie-Luise (AUTHOR), Schilbach, Leonhard (AUTHOR), Brem, Anna-Katharine (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. Dec2025, Vol. 55 Issue 12, p4234-4246. 13p.
Subjects: Testosterone, Cross-sectional method, Risk-taking behavior, Research funding, Centrifugation, Hormones, Autism, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Blood collection, Questionnaires, Executive function, Decision making, Hydrocortisone, Uncertainty, Descriptive statistics, Estradiol, Longitudinal method, Neuropsychological tests, Asperger's syndrome, Data analysis software, Regression analysis, Comorbidity, Psychiatric drugs, Adults
Abstract: Decision-making under unpredictable conditions can cause discomfort in autistic persons due to their preference for predictability. Decision-making impairments might furthermore be associated with a dysregulation of sex and stress hormones. This prospective, cross-sectional study investigated decision-making in 32 autistic participants (AP, 14 female) and 31 non-autistic participants (NAP, 20 female) aged 18–64 years. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Cambridge Risk Task (CRT) were used to assess decision-making under ambiguity and under risk with known outcome probabilities, respectively. Cortisol, estradiol, and testosterone serum levels were related to decision-making performance. Groups did not differ in overall IGT and CRT performance, but compared with NAP, AP preferred less profitable card decks with predictable outcomes while avoiding those with unpredictable outcomes. AP required more time to reach decisions compared to NAP. Additionally, AP without comorbid depression performed significantly worse than NAP in the IGT. Estradiol and cortisol concentrations were significant predictors of CRT scores in NAP, but not in AP. The study results imply that AP are 'risk-averse' in decision-making under ambiguity as they avoided choice options with unpredictable losses in comparison to NAP. Our findings highlight the intolerance for uncertainty, particularly in ambiguous situations. Thus, we recommend being as transparent and precise as possible when interacting with autistic individuals. Future research should explore decision-making in social situations among individuals with ASD, factoring in person-dependent variables such as depression. [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 Adults Avoid Unpredictability in Decision-Making.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Macchia%2C+Ana%22">Macchia, Ana</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Albantakis%2C+Laura%22">Albantakis, Laura</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zebhauser%2C+Paul+Theo%22">Zebhauser, Paul Theo</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brandi%2C+Marie-Luise%22">Brandi, Marie-Luise</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Schilbach%2C+Leonhard%22">Schilbach, Leonhard</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brem%2C+Anna-Katharine%22">Brem, Anna-Katharine</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Autism+%26+Developmental+Disorders%22">Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 55 Issue 12, p4234-4246. 13p.
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Decision-making under unpredictable conditions can cause discomfort in autistic persons due to their preference for predictability. Decision-making impairments might furthermore be associated with a dysregulation of sex and stress hormones. This prospective, cross-sectional study investigated decision-making in 32 autistic participants (AP, 14 female) and 31 non-autistic participants (NAP, 20 female) aged 18–64 years. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Cambridge Risk Task (CRT) were used to assess decision-making under ambiguity and under risk with known outcome probabilities, respectively. Cortisol, estradiol, and testosterone serum levels were related to decision-making performance. Groups did not differ in overall IGT and CRT performance, but compared with NAP, AP preferred less profitable card decks with predictable outcomes while avoiding those with unpredictable outcomes. AP required more time to reach decisions compared to NAP. Additionally, AP without comorbid depression performed significantly worse than NAP in the IGT. Estradiol and cortisol concentrations were significant predictors of CRT scores in NAP, but not in AP. The study results imply that AP are 'risk-averse' in decision-making under ambiguity as they avoided choice options with unpredictable losses in comparison to NAP. Our findings highlight the intolerance for uncertainty, particularly in ambiguous situations. Thus, we recommend being as transparent and precise as possible when interacting with autistic individuals. Future research should explore decision-making in social situations among individuals with ASD, factoring in person-dependent variables such as depression. [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.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=189168299
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10803-024-06503-2
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 4234
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      – SubjectFull: Testosterone
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cross-sectional method
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Risk-taking behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Research funding
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      – SubjectFull: Centrifugation
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      – SubjectFull: Hormones
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      – SubjectFull: Autism
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      – SubjectFull: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
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      – SubjectFull: Blood collection
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Autistic Adults Avoid Unpredictability in Decision-Making.
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              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
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