Can measures of social cognition predict autistic traits?

Researchers studied 166 adults to see if certain social skills could predict autism-like traits. They found that people who had trouble controlling copying behaviors and managing emotions showed more autism-like characteristics. However, empathy levels didn't predict these traits. This helps us better understand which social abilities are most connected to autism-like features in the general population.

This cross-sectional study examined whether social cognitive abilities predict autistic traits in 166 neurotypical adults (aged 18-39). Participants completed online assessments of imitation-inhibition, empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index), emotion regulation (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale), and autistic traits (AQ-10). Multiple regression analyses revealed that difficulties with imitation-inhibition and emotion regulation significantly predicted higher autistic traits, while empathy did not. The research aimed to clarify inconsistent findings in the literature regarding relationships between social cognitive abilities and autistic traits in the general population.

Findings suggest emotion regulation and imitation control may be more relevant therapeutic targets than empathy-focused interventions. Results support assessment approaches that prioritize these specific social cognitive domains when evaluating autism-related characteristics.

Study limited to neurotypical adults aged 18-39, relied on self-report measures, cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences, and used abbreviated autism screening tool rather than comprehensive diagnostic assessment.

Past research has yielded conflicting findings concerning socio-cognitive deficits in individuals with autistic traits. This raises the fundamental question whether autistic traits and socio-cognitive abilities are related. The present study investigated whether three key socio-cognitive abilities-imitation-inhibition, empathy, and emotion regulation-can serve as predictive factors for autistic traits within a neurotypical population. Participants (N = 166, M = 24.83 years, SD = 5.20 years, range = 18 to 39 years) were asked to perform an online imitation-inhibition task and complete self-report measures assessing empathy, emotion regulation, and autistic traits.

Empathy was measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), emotion regulation was assessed using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and autistic traits were measured using the ten-item short form of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ-10). Multiple regression analyses revealed that both imitation-inhibition and emotion regulation were significantly associated with autistic traits. However, empathy was not found to be a significant predictor. Our study aimed to clarify inconsistent results regarding the relationship between socio-cognitive abilities and autistic traits.