Researchers from the University of Geneva in Switzerland explored how young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) react to stress. They found that autism can amplify the intensity and persistence of unpleasant experiences. The study appeared in the journal Autism, a publication focused on advances in autism research.
Elevated stress levels are linked to a spectrum of mental health concerns, including anxiety and mood disorders. Aware of these risks, psychologists have pursued deeper insights into how autistic adolescents and young adults handle daily stressors, paying close attention to their emotional responses and coping mechanisms.
“ Heightened emotional reactivity to everyday stress is a vulnerability factor seen across several clinical groups, so we were keen to understand how this manifests in youths with autism,” noted the study’s author Laura Ihlen.
The study included 94 participants, with 39 diagnosed with ASD, ranging in age from 12 to 29 years old.
Participants wore smartphones that delivered prompts eight times daily over six days to complete brief surveys about current emotions and stressful states during their daily activities. This approach yielded real-time data from participants in their natural settings, enabling a richer picture of how daily experiences shape mood and stress responses.
Findings indicated that individuals with autism reported higher levels of negative emotions such as sadness and anxiety in everyday life. While there was no large difference in stress linked to specific events, those with ASD experienced notably greater stress related to social interactions and routine daily tasks.
It is also noted that autistic individuals tend to find social events less pleasant than non-social ones, suggesting greater sensitivity to social stressors.
A particularly striking result was the increased reactivity of autistic participants to stress tied to daily activities. This implies that routine tasks and responsibilities can carry more emotional weight for people on the spectrum.
Gender differences emerged as well: autistic women showed stronger stress responses to daily activities and events than autistic men, pointing to possible variations in how gender influences stress patterns within the autistic population.
The researchers also looked at cognitive emotion regulation, which encompasses the strategies people use to manage and respond to their feelings. They found that autistic participants more often relied on less adaptive methods, such as dwelling on negative thoughts and self-blame, while using fewer adaptive strategies like positive refocusing and planning. This pattern could help explain the higher levels of stress and negative emotions observed in this group and offers avenues for targeted support and coping training.
These findings add to the growing understanding of how autism interacts with everyday life stress and highlight the importance of supporting adaptive emotion regulation to improve well being for autistic youth. The study underscores the need for caregivers and clinicians to consider social and daily activity stress when developing interventions and supports, ensuring that strategies are practical, accessible, and relevant to real-world settings. – Autistic research community notes and journal attributions.