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Exploring the autism spectrum: Moderating effects of neuroticism on stress reactivity and on the association between social context and negative affect

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2021

Jeroen van Oosterhout Open the ORCID record for Jeroen van Oosterhout [Opens in a new window] ,
Kim van der Linden ,
Claudia J.P. Simons ,
Thérèse van Amelsvoort  and
Machteld Marcelis
Jeroen van Oosterhout*
Affiliation:
GGzE, Mental Healthcare institution Eindhoven, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
Kim van der Linden
Affiliation:
GGzE, Mental Healthcare institution Eindhoven, Eindhoven, the Netherlands Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
Claudia J.P. Simons
Affiliation:
GGzE, Mental Healthcare institution Eindhoven, Eindhoven, the Netherlands Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
Thérèse van Amelsvoort
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
Machteld Marcelis
Affiliation:
GGzE, Mental Healthcare institution Eindhoven, Eindhoven, the Netherlands Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
*
Author for Correspondence: Jeroen van Oosterhout, MSc., GGzE Mental Healthcare institution Eindhoven, P.O. Box DP3918, 5600 AX, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; E-mail: jeroen.van.oosterhout@ggze.nl
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Abstract

Neuroticism is associated with increased stress reactivity. In autism spectrum disorders (ASD), emotional stress reactivity is increased and there is some evidence for an increased negative affect (NA) when with less familiar people. The aim of this study was to compare adults with ASD and controls on levels of neuroticism and on interactions between neuroticism and appraised stress or social context in models of NA. This is a cross-sectional observational study comprising a group of 50 adults with ASD and 51 controls. Experience sampling method (ESM) reports were collected for 10 days to measure daily life stress, mood, and social context. Multilevel regression analyses revealed significantly higher neuroticism levels in ASD than in controls. Adults with ASD who scored high on neuroticism showed a significantly stronger association between activity/social stress and NA (i.e., higher stress reactivity) than those with low scores. Furthermore, the association between neuroticism and NA was stronger when adults with ASD were with less familiar people compared with being alone or with familiar people. No consistent corresponding significant interactions were found in the control group. In conclusion, in ASD, neuroticism moderates the association between appraised stress and NA as well as the association between social context and NA.

Keywords

autismmomentary assessmentneuroticismsocial contextstress reactivity
Type
Regular Article
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 34 , Issue 4 , October 2022 , pp. 1366 - 1375
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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