Self Versus Professional Diagnosis of Autism: Role of Masking in Mental Health Outcomes
Location
Room 232, Schewel Hall
Access Type
Open Access
Presentation Type
Oral presentation
Entry Number
86
Start Date
4-16-2026 8:30 AM
End Date
4-16-2026 8:45 AM
School
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with an increased risk for depression, anxiety, and other negative mental health outcomes. Many adults identify as autistic without receiving a formal diagnosis, often due to barriers such as cost, limited access to specialists, and missed diagnoses in childhood. While self-diagnosis is increasingly accepted in autistic communities, little research has examined whether mental health outcomes differ between self-diagnosed and professionally diagnosed individuals. Masking behaviors, or efforts to hide autistic traits in order to appear more socially typical, have also been linked to poorer mental health, but their role alongside diagnostic type has not been well studied.
This study examined the effects of diagnostic type (self vs. professional) and masking level (low vs. high) on depression, anxiety, stress, autistic traits, loneliness, and social self-esteem in 101 autistic adults. Results showed that higher masking was associated with greater depression, higher autistic trait scores, greater loneliness, and lower social self-esteem. Masking was not significantly related to anxiety or stress. Self-diagnosed participants reported higher depression than professionally diagnosed participants, but the groups did not differ on other outcomes. Masking did not moderate the relationship between diagnostic type and mental health outcomes.
Overall, masking appeared to be a stronger predictor of mental health outcomes than diagnostic type. These findings suggest that masking behaviors may represent an important risk factor for poorer mental health in autistic adults.
Primary Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Alisha Marciano
Primary Faculty Mentor(s) Department
Psychology
Rights Statement
The right to download or print any portion of this material is granted by the copyright owner only for personal or educational use. The author/creator retains all proprietary rights, including copyright ownership. Any editing, other reproduction or other use of this material by any means requires the express written permission of the copyright owner. Except as provided above, or for any other use that is allowed by fair use (Title 17, §107 U.S.C.), you may not reproduce, republish, post, transmit or distribute any material from this web site in any physical or digital form without the permission of the copyright owner of the material.
Self Versus Professional Diagnosis of Autism: Role of Masking in Mental Health Outcomes
Room 232, Schewel Hall
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with an increased risk for depression, anxiety, and other negative mental health outcomes. Many adults identify as autistic without receiving a formal diagnosis, often due to barriers such as cost, limited access to specialists, and missed diagnoses in childhood. While self-diagnosis is increasingly accepted in autistic communities, little research has examined whether mental health outcomes differ between self-diagnosed and professionally diagnosed individuals. Masking behaviors, or efforts to hide autistic traits in order to appear more socially typical, have also been linked to poorer mental health, but their role alongside diagnostic type has not been well studied.
This study examined the effects of diagnostic type (self vs. professional) and masking level (low vs. high) on depression, anxiety, stress, autistic traits, loneliness, and social self-esteem in 101 autistic adults. Results showed that higher masking was associated with greater depression, higher autistic trait scores, greater loneliness, and lower social self-esteem. Masking was not significantly related to anxiety or stress. Self-diagnosed participants reported higher depression than professionally diagnosed participants, but the groups did not differ on other outcomes. Masking did not moderate the relationship between diagnostic type and mental health outcomes.
Overall, masking appeared to be a stronger predictor of mental health outcomes than diagnostic type. These findings suggest that masking behaviors may represent an important risk factor for poorer mental health in autistic adults.