Sex differences in predictors and outcomes of camouflaging: Comparing diagnosed autistic, high autistic trait and low autistic trait young adults.

This research looked at 'camouflaging' - when autistic people hide their natural behaviors to fit in socially. The study found that autistic women camouflage more than anyone else, including autistic men. People who camouflaged more had lower quality of life. Loneliness seemed to drive camouflaging in diagnosed autistic people. The findings help explain why some people (especially women) might struggle to get an autism diagnosis and highlight the need for better support.

This study examined sex differences in camouflaging behaviors among three groups: diagnosed autistic individuals, those with high autistic traits but no diagnosis, and those with low autistic traits. Camouflaging refers to strategies used to hide autistic behaviors in social situations. Results showed autistic women camouflaged significantly more than all other groups, while individuals with few autistic characteristics camouflaged least. Loneliness was identified as a predictor of camouflaging specifically in the diagnosed autistic group.

Across all groups, higher camouflaging was associated with lower quality of life, suggesting negative outcomes regardless of diagnostic status or trait levels.

Clinicians should be aware of higher camouflaging in autistic women and its association with poorer quality of life. Assessment processes may need to account for camouflaging behaviors that could mask autistic traits. Interventions addressing loneliness and providing alternative social strategies may help reduce harmful camouflaging.

Study type and sample size are not reported, limiting assessment of methodological rigor. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality between camouflaging and outcomes. No details provided about measurement instruments or participant characteristics.

Many autistic people use strategies that help them adapt in social situations and hide behaviours that may seem different to non-autistic individuals - this is called camouflaging. Camouflaging may help autistic people fit in socially; however, it might also lead to poorer well-being. It has been suggested that autistic females camouflage more than autistic males. This article explored differences between males and females who have an autism diagnosis, have characteristics of autism but no diagnosis and those with few autistic characteristics.

It is important to include these groups as camouflaging may make it more difficult to get an autism diagnosis and therefore make it less likely a person will receive support. We found that autistic women camouflaged more than all other groups. The group with few autistic characteristics (males and females) camouflaged the least. Loneliness was found to be a possible reason for camouflaging for the diagnosed autistic group only.

In terms of outcomes related to camouflaging, it was found that those who camouflaged most had a lower quality of life; this was true of all groups. This tells us that there may be different reasons to camouflage, and different outcomes related to camouflaging for those with many characteristics of autism (including those with a diagnosis), and those with few. It is important that clinicians, teachers, parents and other stakeholders are aware of the negative outcomes associated with camouflaging so that more support can be provided for those who need it.