Open AccessBrief Report: Does Autistic Community Connectedness Moderate the Relationship Between Masking and Wellbeing?
Author(s) -
Eilidh Cage,
Rebekah Cranney,
Monique Botha
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
autism in adulthood
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2573-959X
pISSN - 2573-9581
DOI - 10.1089/aut.2021.0096
Subject(s) - psychology , masking (illustration) , moderation , prejudice (legal term) , mental health , social connectedness , salience (neuroscience) , optimal distinctiveness theory , developmental psychology , social psychology , cognitive psychology , psychiatry , art , visual arts
Masking involves blending in or covering a stigmatized identity, to avoid discrimination and to "pass" within society. Autistic people often report masking, both intentionally and unintentionally, to get by in social situations. Autistic people who report high rates of masking also tend to experience poorer mental health. It is important we understand whether there are variables that can protect against the negative effects of masking. One such potential variable is autistic community connectedness (ACC)-being part of and belonging to the autistic community. Past research suggests there are benefits for autistic people socially connecting with other autistic people. We investigated whether ACC could moderate the relationship between masking and wellbeing.