Purpose: The aim of the present study is to explore the associations between autistic traits (ATs), camouflaging and trait emotional intelligence (TEI) in the general population. The study also aims to the effects of gender and age on these relationships.
Methods: 153 participants were used. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire along with questionnaires investigating ATs, camouflaging and TEI. All questionnaires were counterbalanced.
Results: An increase in camouflaging total and subscale scores were related to a decrease in TEI and assimilation predicted TEI. An increase in TEI total and subscale scores were associated with a decrease in ATs and emotionality and sociability predicted ATs. An increase in AT total and subscale scores is related to an increase in camouflaging and attention to details and attention switching predicted camouflaging. For TEI and camouflaging, there were no gender or age group effects. For ATs, gender had no effect. However, the 30-39-year-old age group was associated with lower ATs than the 20-29-year-old age group.
Conclusions. Overall, camouflaging is negatively related to TEI; TEI is negatively related to ATs and ATs are positively related to camouflaging. There were no gender differences but a small age difference with ATs. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
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