Exploring the link between social responsiveness and anxiety: A sex-based study in a neurodiverse adolescent sample
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Erin Kang
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 1:30 PM
End Date
25-4-2025 2:29 PM
Description
Co-occurring anxiety is common in autistic individuals, with sex differences affecting its presentation (Sedgewick et al., 2020). Autistic females may present as more socially adept than males, thus influencing the relationship between social responsiveness and anxiety (Lai et al., 2015). This study explores whether social responsiveness predicts anxiety and the role of sex in these relationships. Participants (N=55; 52.7% male; Mage=13.31, SDage=1.85; 65.5% autistic) and their parents completed measures of anxiety symptoms (MASC-2; March 2012). Parents also reported autism-related social responsiveness (SRS-2; Constantino, 2012). Hierarchical regression revealed social responsiveness as a significant predictor of parent-reported total anxiety (β = 0.437, p < .001) and social anxiety (β = .276, p = .008) when controlling for sex. Moderation analyses indicated that social responsiveness predicted parent-reported social anxiety in males (β =0.468, p < .001), but not in females (p = .503). Additionally, social responsiveness positively predicted parent-reported total anxiety levels (β = 0.441, p < .001), but sex did not moderate this relationship (p = .266). Findings suggest that social responsiveness significantly predicts parent-reported total anxiety and social anxiety above and beyond sex, particularly in males. However, sex did not affect the overall connection between social responsiveness and anxiety, indicating that the effects might not vary much between sexes. While social responsiveness is a predictor of anxiety in males, the lack of a similar predictive link in females calls for further exploration of the underlying factors influencing anxiety among young people of different sex, particularly within neurodiverse groups.
Exploring the link between social responsiveness and anxiety: A sex-based study in a neurodiverse adolescent sample
Co-occurring anxiety is common in autistic individuals, with sex differences affecting its presentation (Sedgewick et al., 2020). Autistic females may present as more socially adept than males, thus influencing the relationship between social responsiveness and anxiety (Lai et al., 2015). This study explores whether social responsiveness predicts anxiety and the role of sex in these relationships. Participants (N=55; 52.7% male; Mage=13.31, SDage=1.85; 65.5% autistic) and their parents completed measures of anxiety symptoms (MASC-2; March 2012). Parents also reported autism-related social responsiveness (SRS-2; Constantino, 2012). Hierarchical regression revealed social responsiveness as a significant predictor of parent-reported total anxiety (β = 0.437, p < .001) and social anxiety (β = .276, p = .008) when controlling for sex. Moderation analyses indicated that social responsiveness predicted parent-reported social anxiety in males (β =0.468, p < .001), but not in females (p = .503). Additionally, social responsiveness positively predicted parent-reported total anxiety levels (β = 0.441, p < .001), but sex did not moderate this relationship (p = .266). Findings suggest that social responsiveness significantly predicts parent-reported total anxiety and social anxiety above and beyond sex, particularly in males. However, sex did not affect the overall connection between social responsiveness and anxiety, indicating that the effects might not vary much between sexes. While social responsiveness is a predictor of anxiety in males, the lack of a similar predictive link in females calls for further exploration of the underlying factors influencing anxiety among young people of different sex, particularly within neurodiverse groups.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.