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No Offense Intended: Fear of Negative Evaluation in Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • S.I. : Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorders
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Abstract

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common comorbidity for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study examined the cardinal cognitive component of SAD, fear of negative evaluation (FNE), in adolescents and adults with ASD (n = 44; 59 % with social anxiety) and those without ASD (n = 69; 49 % with social anxiety). Group (ASD or non-ASD) significantly moderated the relationship between social disability, as well as social motivation impairment, and FNE, such that there was a stronger positive relationship for the adolescents and adults without ASD. Few differences emerged between those with and without ASD, with respect to specific indicators of FNE. Clinical implications are discussed, including the importance of assessing FNE among individuals with ASD.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially funded by the Organization for Autism Research and the Virginia Tech Graduate Research Development Program. Portions of these findings were presented at the 2015 Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting and the 2015 Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Annual Meeting.

Author Contributions

NC cleaned the data, performed the statistical analysis, interpreted the data, and drafted the manuscript. BM conceived the study, participated in its design and coordination, collected the data, assisted with interpretation of the data, and revised the manuscript critically. SW participated in the design and coordination of the study, assisted with interpretation of the data, and revised the manuscript critically. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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  1. Brenna B. Maddox

    Present address: Center for Autism Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3535 Market Street, Suite 860, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

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  1. Department of Psychology (0436), Child Study Center, Virginia Tech, 460 Turner St., Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA

    Nicole N. Capriola, Brenna B. Maddox & Susan W. White

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Capriola, N.N., Maddox, B.B. & White, S.W. No Offense Intended: Fear of Negative Evaluation in Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 47, 3803–3813 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2827-0

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