Major
Biology
Anticipated Graduation Year
2024
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
Females with autism symptomatology may engage in more camouflaging behaviors during social situations than males. We examined how camouflaging behaviors are associated with college adjustment in females with and without autism symptomatology. 102 female college students attending a university in the U.S. completed online measures assessing autism symptomatology, camouflaging, and college adjustment. Independent samples t-tests showed that females with autism symptomatology reported significantly higher camouflaging behaviors, and lower academic and socio-emotional adjustment to college. Analyses revealed that camouflaging significantly predicted lower college adjustment. Findings suggest that college support programs targeting camouflaging in females with autism symptomatology may be beneficial.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Dr. Denise Davidson, Ph.D, Department of Psychology; Dakota Morales, M.S., Department of Psychology
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Camouflaging and Adjusting to College in Females with and without Autism Symptomatology
Females with autism symptomatology may engage in more camouflaging behaviors during social situations than males. We examined how camouflaging behaviors are associated with college adjustment in females with and without autism symptomatology. 102 female college students attending a university in the U.S. completed online measures assessing autism symptomatology, camouflaging, and college adjustment. Independent samples t-tests showed that females with autism symptomatology reported significantly higher camouflaging behaviors, and lower academic and socio-emotional adjustment to college. Analyses revealed that camouflaging significantly predicted lower college adjustment. Findings suggest that college support programs targeting camouflaging in females with autism symptomatology may be beneficial.