Is camouflaging unique for autism? A comparison of camouflaging between adults with autism and ADHD
Open accessAbstract
Camouflaging (using (un)conscious strategies to appear as non‐autistic) is thought to be an important reason for late autism diagnoses and mental health difficulties. However, it is unclear whether only autistic people camouflage or whether people with other neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions also use similar camouflaging strategies. Therefore, in this preregistered study (AsPredicted: #41811) study, we investigated if adults with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity‐disorder (ADHD) also camouflage. Adults aged 30–90 years filled in the Dutch Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT‐Q‐NL), the ADHD Self‐Report (ADHD‐SR) and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). We investigated differences in camouflaging between adults with ADHD, autism, and a comparison group in an age and sex‐matched subsample (N = 105 per group). We explored if autism and ADHD traits explained camouflaging levels in adults with an autism and/or ADHD diagnosis (N = 477). Adults with ADHD scored higher on total camouflaging and assimilation subscale compared to the comparison group. However, adults with ADHD scored lower on total camouflaging, and subscales compensation and assimilation than autistic adults. Autism traits, but not ADHD traits, were a significant predictor of camouflaging, independent of diagnosis. Thus, camouflaging does not seem to be unique to autistic adults, since adults with ADHD also show camouflaging behavior, even though not as much as autistic adults. However, as the CAT‐Q‐NL specifically measures camouflaging of autistic traits it is important to develop more general measures of camouflaging, to compare camouflaging more reliably in people with different mental health conditions. Furthermore, focusing on camouflaging in adults with ADHD, including potential consequences for late diagnoses and mental health seems a promising future research avenue.
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Adults with ADHD demonstrate efforts to socially camouflage their ADHD and assimilate.
“adults with ADHD demonstrate efforts to socially camouflage their ADHD and assimilate (van der Putten et al. 2024).”
From “I Felt Like a Burden”: An Exploration Into the Experience of Romantic Relationships for People With ADHD (2026) · cites this paper as van der Putten et al. 2024
Cites
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“Because adults with ADHD experience many co-occurring psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety, mood disorders, and substance abuse (Franke et al., 2018), camouflaging may also be an underlying explanatory mechanism in these mental health difficulties.”
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“Also, people with ADHD and autism experience difficulties in executive functioning (Boonstra et al., 2005; Demetriou et al., 2018).”
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“This oversight has left many girls and women with ADHD undiagnosed and untreated, as most research and clinical practices have and conform to societal expectations (Hull et al., 2017, 2019; Mylett, 2022; van der Putten et al., 2024).”
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“Recent research has highlighted that similar to autistic adults, adults with ADHD demonstrate efforts to socially camouflage their ADHD and assimilate (van der Putten et al. 2024).”
- Authors
- van der Putten, W. J., Mol, A. J. J., Groenman, A. P., Radhoe, T. A., Torenvliet, C., van Rentergem, J. A. A., & Geurts, H. M.
- Affiliations
- Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Outpatient Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group) Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Parnassia Groep (NL)
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Department of Psychology University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Venue
- Autism Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2024-02-07
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 812-823
- ISSN
- 1939-3792 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-3806
- OpenAlex
- W4391613946
- Cited by
- 54
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 11
- FWCI
- 13.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Autism Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (453‐16‐006)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Keywords
- camouflaging, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autistic traits, assimilation, compensation, delayed diagnosis, mental health, adults, Autism Spectrum Quotient, neurodevelopmental disorders
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Autistic Disorder, Humans, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Report
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