It is known that individuals with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) hide aspects of their autistic persona to appear ‘normal’; this is known as camouflaging and is thought to contribute to poor mental health outcomes. It has been proposed that individuals from the general population with high levels of autistic traits also camouflage, thus the current research aims to explore the interrelations among autistic traits, camouflaging behaviours and mental health outcomes in the general population. 152 participants completed an online survey measuring their levels of autistic traits, camouflaging behaviours and depression, anxiety and stress. Regression analyses uncovered that individuals with high levels of autistic traits demonstrate higher levels of compensation and assimilation but not masking behaviours. Furthermore, higher levels of camouflaging behaviours contribute to worse mental health outcomes, with individual differences in camouflaging behaviours playing a role. The current research establishes interrelationships between these factors, highlighting the need for further research to better understand the potential relationships between camouflaging and late-onset ASC diagnosis, as well highlighting the need for tailored mental health interventions for individuals who camouflage their autistic-like persona.
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