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Cited by 359Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchFamily and Disability Support ResearchDown syndrome and intellectual disability research

Levels of anxiety and sources of stress in adults with autism

Gillott, Alinda, Standen, P.J.·2007·Journal of Intellectual Disabilities
DOI 10.1177/1744629507083585
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Abstract

Clinical reports suggest that anxiety is a pertinent issue for adults with autism. We compared 34 adults with autism with 20 adults with intellectual disabilities, utilizing informant-based measures of anxiety and stress. Groups were matched by age, gender and intellectual ability. Adults with autism were almost three times more anxious than the comparison group and gained significantly higher scores on the anxiety subscales of panic and agoraphobia, separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. In terms of sources of stress, significant differences between the two groups were also found, and stress was found to correlate with high anxiety levels for the autism group, particularly the ability to cope with change, anticipation, sensory stimuli and unpleasant events. That is, the more anxious the individual with autism, the less likely they were able to cope with these demands. This has important implications for clinicians in terms of both assessment and treatment.

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Crossref · 10.1177/1744629507083585

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29 of 29 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Sensory processing differences have been linked to anxiety in a number of studies.

    “sensory processing differences (SPDs) such as hypo- or hyper-sensitivity to sensory stimuli, which are now considered a defining characteristic of autism (American Psychiatric Association, 2013), have also been linked to anxiety in a number of studies (Gillott & Standen, 2007).”

    From Examining a model of anxiety in autistic adults (2024) · cites this paper as Gillott & Standen, 2007

  • In ASD samples, severity of anxiety appears higher in individuals with more severe sensory dysfunction.

    “In ASD samples, severity of anxiety appears to be higher in individuals with more severe sensory dysfunction (Gillott and Standen, 2007; Uljarević et al., 2016).”

    From Sensory, emotional and cognitive contributions to anxiety in autism spectrum disorders (2017) · cites this paper as Gillott and Standen, 2007

  • Sensory concerns appear more prevalent in ASD samples than in control groups with developmental concerns, including special educational needs and adults with intellectual disabilities.

    “Sensory concerns appear to be more prevalent in ASD samples than in control groups with developmental concerns, including special educational needs (Green et al., 2016) and adults with intellectual disabilities (Gillott and Standen, 2007).”

    From Sensory, emotional and cognitive contributions to anxiety in autism spectrum disorders (2017) · cites this paper as Gillott and Standen, 2007

  • The prevalence of comorbid mental health conditions in autism is strikingly high.

    “The prevalence of comorbid mental health conditions in autism is strikingly high.”

    From Experiences of autism acceptance and mental health in autistic adults (2018) · cites this paper as Gillott and Standen 2007

  • Anxiety is frequently found to be higher in the autistic population than within the non-autistic population.

    “Anxiety is also frequently found to be higher in the autistic population than within the non-autistic population (Gillott and Standen 2007)”

    From Experiences of autism acceptance and mental health in autistic adults (2018) · cites this paper as Gillott and Standen 2007

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Authors
Gillott, A., & Standen, P. J.
Affiliations
  • Highbury Hospital (GB)
  • University of Nottingham (GB)
Corresponding author
Gillott, Alinda
ORCID
Standen, P.J.
Venue
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2007-12
Volume
11
Issue
4
Pages
359-370
ISSN
  • 1744-6295 (ISSN-L)
  • 1744-6309
DOI
10.1177/1744629507083585
OpenAlex
W2107963389
Cited by
359
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 11
FWCI
3.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Intellectual Disabilities (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, stress, autistic adults, intellectual disability, panic disorder, agoraphobia, separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, coping with change, sensory stimuli
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Age Factors, Anxiety Disorders, Autistic Disorder, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Intellectual Disability, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychometrics, Severity of Illness Index, Stress, Psychological, Wechsler Scales, Comorbidity, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

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