Episodic Future Thinking in Autism Spectrum Disorder and 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Association with Anticipatory Pleasure and Social Functioning

Feller, Clémence Mathilde; Dubois, Charlotte; Eliez, Stéphan; Schneider, Maude

doi:10.1007/s10803-021-04903-2

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 72 publications

(109 reference statements)

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“…Indeed, it has been shown that not only identifying one’s own emotional states ( Barrett et al, 2001 ) but also predicting one’s emotions during future events ( Werner & Gross, 2010 ) appears to be important for effective regulation of emotions. Difficulties in episodic future thinking, associated with reduced anticipatory pleasure, have been reported in some adolescents and young adults with autism ( Feller et al, 2021 ). On the contrary, as the current study only examined cognitive ER, it is likely that youth also used other types of adaptive or non-adaptive strategies to (directly or indirectly) regulate their emotions, which were not captured.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive emotion regulation difficulties increase affective reactivity to daily-life stress in autistic adolescents and young adults

Ilen,

Feller,

Schneider

2023

Autism

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Increased reactivity to daily stressors is associated with mental health difficulties, which are common in autistic individuals. We investigated affective reactivity to daily-life stress, cognitive emotion regulation, and their link with co-occurring mental health symptoms in adolescents and young adults with autism. A 6-day ecological momentary assessment protocol was used to assess perceived daily-life stress (event-related, activity-related, and social stress) as well as negative affects in autistic ( n = 39, age = 18.4) and non-autistic ( n = 55, age = 18.1) participants. Co-occurring mental health difficulties, social functioning, and cognitive emotion regulation were assessed with questionnaires and clinical evaluations. Youth with autism showed higher levels of perceived stress related to their daily social context and activities, as well as an increased affective reactivity to activity-related stressors compared with non-autistic youth. Moreover, they reported using less adaptive and more non-adaptive emotion regulation, the latter increasing their affective response to daily stressors and possibly contributing to the severity of co-occurring mental health symptoms. Our findings demonstrate high perceived daily-life stress in autistic adolescents and young adults. To minimize the negative effects of stress and the development of mental health symptoms, interventions could focus on effective stress management and strategies that autistic young people use to manage their emotions. Lay abstract Previous research has shown that autistic individuals report high levels of perceived stress and have an increased likelihood of developing mental health difficulties. Increase in individuals’ negative emotions in relation to perceived stress (i.e. affective reactivity to stress) is a known risk factor for mental health difficulties. In this study, we investigated perceived daily stress and affective reactivity to stress in autistic ( n = 39, age = 18.4) and non-autistic ( n = 55, age = 18.1) adolescents and young adults. We used the ecological momentary assessment, a technique that allows to assess individuals repeatedly in their daily life using their smartphone. Moreover, participants filled a questionnaire to evaluate the strategies they use to regulate emotions when faced with difficulties. Finally, a clinical interview and a parent-report questionnaire were used to assess mental health symptoms. Autistic youth reported higher levels of perceived daily stress compared with non-autistic peers. Moreover, they showed increased affective reactivity to stress related to their daily activities. Autistic participants reported more emotion regulation difficulties (e.g. more repetitive thinking of difficulties) compared with non-autistic participants. Difficulties in emotion regulation increased negative emotions in relation to stress and might contribute to the severity of mental health symptoms. We conclude that adolescents and young adults with autism report high perceived stress in their daily lives. To minimize the negative impact of stress and the development of mental health symptoms, people supporting autistic young people could focus on stress management skills and the strategies that the youth use to manage emotions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive emotion regulation difficulties increase affective reactivity to daily-life stress in autistic adolescents and young adults

Ilen,

Feller,

Schneider

2023

Autism

Self Cite

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“…Indeed, it has been shown that not only identifying one's own emotional states (Barrett et al, 2001) but also predicting one's emotions during future events (Werner & Gross, 2010) appears to be important for effective regulation of emotions. Interestingly, impaired episodic future thinking, associated with reduced anticipatory pleasure, has been reported in adolescents and young adults with ASD (Feller et al, 2021).…”

Section: Emotion Regulationmentioning

confidence: 97%

Cognitive emotion regulation difficulties increase affective reactivity to daily-life stress in autistic adolescents and young adults

Ilen¹,

Feller²,

Schneider³

2022

Preprint

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Increased reactivity to minor stressors is associated with mental health issues, which are common in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We investigated affective reactivity to daily-life stress, emotion regulation (ER), and their link with comorbid mental health symptoms in adolescents and young adults with ASD. A 6-day Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) protocol was used to assess different types of daily stress (event-related, activity-related and social stress) as well as negative affects (NA) in participants with ASD (n=39, age=18.4) and typically developing youth (TD; n=55, age=18.1). Psychopathology, social functioning and ER were assessed with questionnaires and clinical evaluations. Youth with ASD showed higher levels of perceived stress related to their daily social context and activities, as well as an increased affective reactivity to activity-related stressors compared to TD. Moreover, they reported using less adaptive and more non-adaptive ER, the latter increasing their affective response to daily stress. Our findings demonstrate high subjective daily-life stress in adolescents and young adults with ASD. To minimize the negative effects of stress on affective states and clinical evolution, interventions should focus on effective stress management and reduction of non-adaptive ER, such as ruminations.

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“…Since this identification with one’s future self is crucial for significant life possibilities, corresponding difficulties will also affect one’s capacity for hoping. In particular, recent findings suggest that autistic people often have difficulties with episodic future thinking, or future-oriented mental time travel ( Feller et al, 2021 ; Ye et al, 2023 ). Inasmuch as impairments of episodic future thinking have been linked to depression ( Hallford et al, 2018 ), a close connection with fundamental hopelessness seems likely.…”

Section: Dimensions Of “Black Pill” Hopelessness – ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Incels, autism, and hopelessness: affective incorporation of online interaction as a challenge for phenomenological psychopathology

Tirkkonen,

Vespermann

2023

Front. Psychol.

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Recent research has drawn attention to the prevalence of self-reported autism within online communities of involuntary celibates (incels). These studies suggest that some individuals with autism may be particularly vulnerable to the impact of incel forums and the hopelessness they generate. However, a more precise description of the experiential connection between inceldom, self-reported autism, and hopelessness has remained unarticulated. Therefore, this article combines empirical studies on the incel community with phenomenological and embodiment approaches to autism, hopelessness, and online affectivity. We analyze three interrelated aspects of online interactions in incel communities – worldview, bodily self-relation, and mutual dismissals – and examine how these elements contribute to the consolidation of the loss of significant life possibilities. By investigating the potential negative influence of specific online environments on affective dispositions, our approach contributes to the debate on current challenges to “situate” phenomenological psychopathology.

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Episodic Future Thinking in Autism Spectrum Disorder and 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Association with Anticipatory Pleasure and Social Functioning

Cited by 8 publications

References 72 publications

Cognitive emotion regulation difficulties increase affective reactivity to daily-life stress in autistic adolescents and young adults

Cognitive emotion regulation difficulties increase affective reactivity to daily-life stress in autistic adolescents and young adults

Cognitive emotion regulation difficulties increase affective reactivity to daily-life stress in autistic adolescents and young adults

Incels, autism, and hopelessness: affective incorporation of online interaction as a challenge for phenomenological psychopathology

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