Understanding the Relationships Between Autistic Identity, Disclosure, and Camouflaging
Abstract
Background: Camouflaging involves concealing an autistic identity, for example, by adopting nonautistic behaviors in social contexts. We currently know little about the relationship between autistic identity and camouflaging. Furthermore, other variables may mediate the relationship between camouflaging and identity, and this study examined whether disclosure (being openly autistic) might mediate the relationship. We predicted that fewer camouflaging behaviors would be associated with higher autistic identity when an individual is more open about being autistic.
Methods: One hundred eighty autistic adults (52% female, 42% male, 5% other gender identities, and 1% preferred not to say) took part in the study. They completed an online survey with measures of camouflaging, autistic identity, and disclosure of autistic status.
Results: We found a significant mediation effect such that autistic identity had an indirect negative effect on camouflaging mediated via disclosure. In other words, higher autistic identity linked to more disclosure, which in turn linked to fewer camouflaging behaviors. However, there was evidence for competitive mediation, such that the direct effect (the relationship between identity and camouflaging ignoring disclosure) was significant, with higher autistic identity linking directly to more camouflaging.
Conclusions: The initial hypothesis was confirmed, with higher autistic identity linked to less camouflaging via disclosure. This finding indicates that camouflaging can reduce when there is high autistic identification, and someone has openly disclosed that they are autistic to others. However, the direct effect between identity and camouflaging suggests that there may be conflicts for someone who identifies strongly with being autistic but continues to camouflage. Other variables may play a role in the relationship between identity and camouflaging, such as fear of discrimination, self-awareness, timing of diagnosis, age, ethnicity, or gender. The findings indicate the importance of safe nondiscriminatory environments where individuals can disclose and express their autistic identity, which may in turn reduce camouflaging.
Abstract
Lay summary
Why was this study done?
Camouflaging involves hiding or masking being autistic or using strategies to appear as though nonautistic. Past research has found that camouflaging relates to poorer mental health. Given this, we must understand ways to reduce camouflaging. In this study, we looked at the links between camouflaging, autistic identity (a sense of affiliation with the autistic community), and disclosure (being openly autistic). We know from other research that identifying strongly with the autistic community may protect against mental health difficulties, so we wanted to explore the role autistic identity might play in camouflaging.
What was the purpose of this study?
The purpose was to understand the relationships between camouflaging, autistic identity, and disclosure. We considered disclosure because someone could have a strong sense of autistic identity but might not be open about this to others. We tested the idea that someone with a strong autistic identity might be more openly autistic, and this then has a knock-on effect that links to less camouflaging.
What did the researchers do?
One hundred and eighty autistic adults completed an online survey. They answered questions about camouflaging, autistic identity, and disclosure. They also answered questions about who they were (e.g., age, gender) and autistic characteristics. We analyzed everyone's answers using an analysis called “mediation analysis.” This analysis enables us to test how disclosure influences any association between camouflaging and identity.
What were the results of the study?
We found that higher autistic identity related to more disclosure, and this then linked to less camouflaging, that is, strong autistic identity can relate to less camouflaging when someone is more openly autistic. We also found that ignoring disclosure, autistic identity directly influenced camouflaging in the opposite way, that is, higher autistic identity contributed to more camouflaging if we do not take disclosure into account. This is known as “competitive mediation” and suggests a complex picture when it comes to identity, disclosure, and camouflaging.
What do these findings add to what was already known?
As far as we know, no one has looked at these relationships before. We therefore add to camouflaging research and show that camouflaging might be reduced if autistic people identify strongly and they are able to be openly autistic.
What are potential weaknesses in the study?
Participants were recruited online, which means the sample may be biased, and the findings will not apply to all autistic people. We measured disclosure using one question, which could be a problem because individuals might have interpreted the question in different ways. The “competitive mediation” suggests that there are other variables impacting on relationship between identity and camouflaging, which we did not capture.
How will these findings help autistic adults now or in the future?
This study indicates that strong autistic identity and being openly autistic could reduce camouflaging, which we know to have negative effects on mental health. However, to enable disclosure, these findings demonstrate the need for safe spaces where autistic people can explore their identity and be openly autistic, without fear of discrimination.
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Authorship Confirmation Statement
E.C. and Z.T.-W. designed the study together. Z.T.-W. oversaw data collection. E.C. carried out the data analyses. Both authors contributed toward the article draft. Both authors have reviewed and approved the article before submission. This article has been submitted solely to this journal and is not published, in press, or submitted elsewhere.
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Copyright 2020, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
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Published online: 11 December 2020
Published in print: December 2020
Published ahead of print: 18 August 2020
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No competing financial interests exist.
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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
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