Story perspectives

Social Anxiety, Not Camouflaging, Predicts Depression in Autistic Adults

8/12/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers reported that camouflaging does not predict depression, distress, or lower quality of life for autistic adults.
Social anxiety and responsiveness strongly predicted depression, distress and disability, while camouflaging and its sub-strategies—compensation, masking, assimilation—did not predict any quality-of-life measure.
The study surveyed 113 autistic adults aged 17-75 seeking treatment for social anxiety.
Authors cautioned that self-report, cross-sectional data limit causal claims and urged longitudinal research.

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Story summary

Researchers reported that camouflaging does not predict depression, distress, or lower quality of life for autistic adults.
Social anxiety and responsiveness strongly predicted depression, distress and disability, while camouflaging and its sub-strategies—compensation, masking, assimilation—did not predict any quality-of-life measure.
The study surveyed 113 autistic adults aged 17-75 seeking treatment for social anxiety.
Authors cautioned that self-report, cross-sectional data limit causal claims and urged longitudinal research.