Quality over quantity: association between autistic traits and daily-life social interactions in adolescents and young adults from the TwinssCan cohort.

OBJECTIVE

Autistic traits (ATs) are associated with difficulties in social functioning, but their impact on the quantity and the quality of daily-life social interactions is not yet fully understood. Hereby, we examined the relationship between AT and daily-life social interactions in adolescents and young adults.

METHODS

Data were derived from the TwinssCan cohort (N = 593). ATs were assessed using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), while the quantity and the quality of daily-life social interactions were evaluated using the Experience Sampling Methodology. Multilevel regressions were performed, with the AQ as the independent variable and each social/solitary quantity/quality variable as the dependent variable. Models were adjusted for age, sex, and general psychopathology, measured with the Symptom Checklist-90.

RESULTS

No significant association was found between AQ total scores and quantity of social interactions. However, AQ total scores were significantly associated with quality of social interactions. Higher ATs were associated with an increased preference to be alone (B = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01-0.07), less pleasure while in-company (B = -0.02, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.01), less feeling of safety while in-company (B = -0.02, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.002), and less feeling of belongingness (B = -0.02, 95% CI -0.03 to -0.001). ATs were differently associated with the quality of social interactions depending on the familiarity. No significant associations were found between ATs and solitary qualities.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the importance of evaluating ATs during clinical assessments, especially in adolescents and young adults, to evaluate the impact on social interactions and the potential psychopathological consequences.