Understanding the Contributions of Trait Autism and Anxiety to Extreme Demand Avoidance in the Adult General Population.

Researchers studied extreme demand avoidance (EDA) - when people intensely avoid everyday tasks and requests - in adults. They surveyed over 800 people and found that both autism traits and anxiety equally contribute to demand avoidance behaviors. This suggests that EDA is linked to autism and that anxiety may drive these avoidance behaviors in adults.

This research examined the relationship between autistic traits, anxiety, and extreme demand avoidance (EDA) in adults from the general population through two online surveys (n=267 and n=549). Using dominance analysis, researchers found that both autistic traits and anxiety were equally important and unique predictors of demand avoidance behaviors. The findings support the connection between EDA and autism, while also providing evidence for the theory that demand avoidance behaviors may be anxiety-driven in adults. This represents important research into EDA in adulthood, an area that has been previously understudied compared to childhood presentations.

Assessment and intervention for extreme demand avoidance should consider both autistic traits and anxiety levels. Anxiety management strategies may be beneficial for reducing demand avoidance behaviors. EDA should be recognized as a relevant presentation in autistic adults, not just children.

Cross-sectional survey design limits causal inferences. General population sample may not reflect clinical autism populations. Self-report measures may introduce bias. Unclear methodology details provided in abstract limit assessment of study quality.

Autism and anxiety are thought to be related to extreme demand avoidance (EDA), which is characterised by intense avoidance of everyday demands. However, the relative importance of autism and anxiety to EDA has yet to be investigated, and little is known about EDA in adulthood. We conducted two online survey studies (Ns = 267 and 549) with adults in the general population to establish the relative importance of autistic traits and anxiety as predictors of demand avoidance, using dominance analysis. Both autistic traits and anxiety were unique and equally important predictors of demand avoidance.

These findings suggest EDA is linked to autism and are consistent with the theory that demand avoidance behaviours are potentially anxiety-driven in adults.