Author/Authors :
Lin, Ling-Yi Department of Occupational Therapy - College of Medicine - National Cheng Kung University - Tainan, Taiwan , Syu, Ya-Cing Department of Occupational Therapy - College of Medicine - National Cheng Kung University - Tainan, Taiwan
Abstract :
Sensoryoverresponsivenessishighlyprevalentinindividualswithautismspectrumdisorders(ASD)andtypicallypersist
intoadulthood.However,theroleofsensoryprocessingdifficultiesininfluencingemotionalwell-beingamongadultswithASD
remainsunclear.Additionally,theassociationsbetweensensoryoverresponsiveness,anxiety,andlonelinessareyettobe
examinedamongadultswithASD.Therefore,toaddressthesecriticalgapsintheliterature,weaimedtoinvestigatethe
relationshipsamongsensoryavoiding,anxiety,andlonelinessinasampleofadultswithASD.Participants.Seventyadults
(age,20–39years)completedthreeself-reportedmeasures.AllparticipantshadadocumenteddiagnosisofASDandhad
normalIQ.Methods. Sensoryprocessing,loneliness,andanxietywereassessedwiththeAdultSensoryProfile,short-form
UCLAlonelinessscale,andBeckAnxietyInventory,respectively.Results.Autismspectrumtraitsandsensoryavoiding
wereassociatedwithanxietyandloneliness.Participantswhoexperiencedsensoryavoidingmorefrequentlyreported
higheranxietyandfeelingsofloneliness,withlonelinessmediatingtherelationshipbetweensensoryavoidingandanxiety.
Moreanxietysymptomsinparticipantswithgreatersensoryavoidingwereassociatedwiththeirhigherlevelofloneliness.
Conclusion.Thisstudydemonstratesthattherelationshipsexistedbetweensensoryprocessingdifficulties,loneliness,and
anxietyamongadultswithASD.Interventionsregardingsensoryprocessingdifficultiesandemotionalwell-beingare
substantialneedforadultswithASD,andourresultshighlighttheimportanceofsensoryoverresponsivenessandanxiety
inevaluatingandimprovingthepsychologicalwell-beingofadultswithASD.
Keywords :
Sensory Overresponsivity , Loneliness , Anxiety , Taiwanese Adults , Autism Spectrum Disorder , ASD , UCLA
