75% of people with autism spectrum disorder feel rejected, according to a survey carried out in several countries. This stigma has consequences on their mental health.
- 75% of people with autism spectrum disorder do not, or do not always, feel accepted.
- This is what a survey carried out in eight different countries indicates.
- This stigma has consequences for mental health and the risk of depression.
It is a call for more tolerance. In PLOS One, British researchers publish the results of a survey on the stigma felt by people with autism spectrum disorder. These scientists, from the school of psychology at the University of Birmingham, note that the majority of those questioned do not feel completely accepted by the rest of the population.
Autism spectrum disorders: an international survey on stigma
The team carried out their survey in eight countries: Japan, Belgium, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United States and New Zealand. In total, 306 people responded to their questionnaire. According to the authors, this is the first comparative study of autism acceptance levels in a cross-cultural sample of people with autism spectrum disorder. According to their results, three-quarters of the study participants do not, or do not always, feel accepted because of their disorder. This acceptance varies by country: participants from Japan and Belgium reported the lowest levels of acceptance, while those from Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Africa were at comparatively higher levels. .
Stigma and ASD: risks for mental health
“Not being accepted by society was linked to higher levels of depression, while hiding one’s autistic traits was linked to higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress., note the authors. South Africa is one region where researchers found particularly high levels of mental health difficulties among participants. They believe this could be due to poor access to suitable support. “In the United States, 47% of adults with mental illness have used mental health services in the past year, compared to just 26% in South Africa.they note.
Concerning camouflage, i.e. hiding the disorder, it was more common among Japanese participants. According to British scientists, this could be linked to the “collectivist culture“Japanese: individuals are more accustomed to adapting other aspects of their identity to fit group norms.
Autism: the need for greater acceptance of those affected
For Dr. Connor Keating, lead author of the study, determining areas where people with autism spectrum disorder are stigmatized is essential. This allows “to identify priority areas for anti-stigma interventions”, but also places where access to mental health services must be improved. “These findings highlight the crucial need to tackle autism stigma and reduce pressure on autistic people to conceal their identity.”he concludes.