An analysis of the social aspects of camouflaging in Autism

Khudiakova, Valeria ORCID: 0000-0001-8909-2316 (2024). An analysis of the social aspects of camouflaging in Autism. University of Birmingham. M.Sc.

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Abstract

As a consequence of experiencing significant stigmatisation and discrimination in predominantly neurotypical society, many autistic people engage in impression management strategies. One of those strategies is camouflaging, which encompasses behavioural strategies aimed at minimising the perception of one’s autistic traits. Qualitative research has found that camouflaging may lead to poor mental health and psychological wellbeing in autistic people, but a significant number of quantitative studies provides inconsistent evidence for the link between the two. The study of the relationship between camouflaging and mental health is complicated by the cross-sectional nature of the research body, measurement issues, the unclear directionality of that relationship, and the potential role of the social context and its interaction with one’s behaviour. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate these issues in camouflaging research through exploring potential sources of inconsistency in studies on camouflaging and mental health and the influence of the social context on camouflaging behaviour.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 23 studies found that camouflaging was significantly associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Study-level effect sizes were not moderated by study quality and sample characteristics, namely the mean age and proportion of female and clinically diagnosed participants. In a qualitative study with 15 autistic adults, social factors such as perceived psychological safety, fit with the interaction partner, and situational demands were found to have an interactive relationship with camouflaging.
Together, the two studies demonstrate the complex nature of camouflaging by highlighting its unclear directionality and potential differential effects across contexts. The findings reiterate the importance of creating autism-inclusive social spaces and provide a foundation for future work on conceptualising and measuring the more complex aspects of camouflaging, such as unconscious camouflaging and its interaction with different social environments.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Sc.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Sc.

Supervisor(s):