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The Self‐Construal Scale: A Potential Tool for Predicting Subjective Well‐Being of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Author(s) -
Kaneko Sachie,
Kato Takahiro A.,
Makinodan Manabu,
Komori Takashi,
Ishida Rio,
Kishimoto Naoko,
Takahashi Masato,
Yasuda Yuka,
Hashimoto Ryota,
Iwasaka Hidemi,
Tanaka Ayumi,
Uchida Yukiko,
Kanba Shigenobu,
Kishimoto Toshifumi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
autism research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.656
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1939-3806
pISSN - 1939-3792
DOI - 10.1002/aur.2242
Subject(s) - autism spectrum disorder , psychology , autism , construals , psychological intervention , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , construal level theory , psychiatry , social psychology
Despite accumulating evidence that culture shapes the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), no studies have yet applied the Self‐Construal Scale to individuals with ASD. We compared the self‐construals (measured using the Self‐Construal Scale) of 31 high‐functioning Japanese individuals with ASD with those of 60 typically developing (TD) individuals. We also examined how the self‐construals of individuals with ASD related to their intelligence quotient, adverse childhood experiences, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ASD symptoms during adulthood and preschool years, and subjective well‐being. Individuals with ASD were more likely to display independent self‐construals than were TD individuals; unexpectedly, however, a substantial proportion of individuals with ASD (43.8%) displayed relatively interdependent self‐construals. Among individuals with ASD, self‐construals were significantly associated with ASD symptoms during preschool years, and with satisfaction of the need for autonomy and frustration of the need for relatedness. Evaluating self‐construals can help predict the subjective well‐being of high‐functioning individuals with ASD. Moreover, the Self‐Construal Scale may be useful for understanding the heterogeneous phenotypes of ASD, based on its association with autistic symptoms during preschool years, suggesting that the scale is a potential tool to develop efficient interventions for high‐functioning individuals with ASD. Autism Res 2020, 13 : 947‐958. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of disorders presenting a variety of symptoms and biological origins that can complicate choosing an intervention best suited for improving well‐being. Results indicate that a self‐construal scale could help understand individuals with high‐functioning ASD by independent and interdependent self‐construals that are associated with ASD symptoms during preschool years and adult subjective well‐being. Our findings suggest that this scale can help understand ASD and select appropriate interventions.