An Investigation of the Complex Relationships Between Sensory Reactivity, Coping Strategies, and Mental Health in Autistic Adults

Sensory reactivity differences and internalizing symptoms are highly prevalent and meaningful in the lives of autistic people, leading to profound impacts on daily functioning and overall well-being. While there is a growing body of evidence illustrating the complex relationships between dimensions of sensory reactivity and anxiety symptoms in autistic youth, this area of research is underdeveloped in autistic adults. This is an issue of critical importance, as research in child populations does not account for the novel sensory challenges autistic people experience in adulthood (e.g., workplace environments) and the marked decrease in available structured supports post-school. Moreover, while qualitative studies have begun to identify the strategies autistic adults use to cope with negative sensory experiences, this work has yet to leverage the addition of quantitative methods and statistical modeling to examine the efficacy of various strategies for reducing internalizing symptoms and improving overall well-being. The proposed project will investigate three primary aims: (1) comprehensively characterize the sensory response patterns in autistic adults and the coping strategies they utilize to manage negative sensory experiences, (2) examine the relationships between sensory reactivity dimensions and anxiety and well-being, and (3) determine if the use of coping strategies impacts these relationships. Findings from this study will help us better understand the sensory experiences of autistic adults and the strategies they use to cope, with implications for the development of more targeted and effective treatments for sensory symptoms and mental health.