Self-Focused Attention and Depressive Symptoms in Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Open accessAbstract
Adults with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) are at high risk of developing comorbid depressive symptoms and in the general population self-focused attention has been associated with depression. Here, we aimed to examine the relationships between aspects of self-focused attention and symptoms of depression in individuals with a diagnosis of ASD. 113 adults with a diagnosis of ASD completed self-report questionnaires. Results found that higher levels of brooding, and to a lesser degree, reflection predicted increased depressive symptoms. However, higher levels of private self-consciousness actually predicted decreased depressive symptoms. Differential relationships were observed for males and females. The current study highlights the importance of using a multidimensional approach to examining self-focused attention in ASD, and its important relationship with depression.
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In adults with ASD, self-focused attention predicts depressive symptoms.
“In adults with ASD, self-focused attention predicts depressive symptoms, supporting this idea.20”
From Distinct and shared therapeutic neural mechanisms of mindfulness-based and social support stress reduction groups in adults with autism spectrum disorder (2023) · cites this paper as [20]
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“20 Mindfulness-based therapies enhance decentring, the capacity to take a detached perspective of one’s thoughts and emotions, which is associated with less depression 21 and offers a potential mechanism of action in ASD.”
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- Authors
- Burns, A., Irvine, M., & Woodcock, K.
- Affiliations
- Queen's University Belfast (GB)
- South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Woodcock, Kate
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2018-09-14
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 692-703
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- OpenAlex
- W2892002902
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 74
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 1.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-sa
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- self-focus, depressive symptoms, autism spectrum disorder, brooding, reflection, private self-consciousness, comorbid depression, sex differences
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adolescent, Adult, Attention, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Depression, Emotions, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Comorbidity, Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood, Young Adult, Self Report
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