The Self‐Construal Scale: A Potential Tool for Predicting Subjective Well‐Being of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Despite accumulating evidence that culture shapes the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), no studies have yet applied the Self‐Construal Scale to individuals with ASD. We compared the self‐construals (measured using the Self‐Construal Scale) of 31 high‐functioning Japanese individuals with ASD with those of 60 typically developing (TD) individuals. We also examined how the self‐construals of individuals with ASD related to their intelligence quotient, adverse childhood experiences, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ASD symptoms during adulthood and preschool years, and subjective well‐being. Individuals with ASD were more likely to display independent self‐construals than were TD individuals; unexpectedly, however, a substantial proportion of individuals with ASD (43.8%) displayed relatively interdependent self‐construals. Among individuals with ASD, self‐construals were significantly associated with ASD symptoms during preschool years, and with satisfaction of the need for autonomy and frustration of the need for relatedness. Evaluating self‐construals can help predict the subjective well‐being of high‐functioning individuals with ASD. Moreover, the Self‐Construal Scale may be useful for understanding the heterogeneous phenotypes of ASD, based on its association with autistic symptoms during preschool years, suggesting that the scale is a potential tool to develop efficient interventions for high‐functioning individuals with ASD. Autism Res 2020, 13: 947‐958. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of disorders presenting a variety of symptoms and biological origins that can complicate choosing an intervention best suited for improving well‐being. Results indicate that a self‐construal scale could help understand individuals with high‐functioning ASD by independent and interdependent self‐construals that are associated with ASD symptoms during preschool years and adult subjective well‐being. Our findings suggest that this scale can help understand ASD and select appropriate interventions.

Sense of Coherence in Parents of Children With Cancer and Its Relationship With Self-Construal in Southeastern Iran

“…A review of the literature showed that no studies have already investigated the relationship between SOC and self-construal in parents of children with cancer. But in recent years, studies have been conducted in different parts of the world, including Iran (Ghorbani et al, 2020; Panahipour et al, 2020), South Korea (Jeon et al, 2020), Japan (Kaneko et al, 2020), Italy (Veronese et al, 2021), China (Jin et al, 2021), and the United States (Bakir et al, 2020; Lam & Tran, 2020). And These variables have been measured individually or in relation to other variables and in different target groups.…”