1. Correction to « Factors associated with suicidal ideation in junior high school students with autism spectrum disorder in Japan: A cross-sectional observational study ». PCN Rep. 2026; 5(1): e70317.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1002/pcn5.70272.].

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

2. Axelsson LL, Falck-Ytter T, Nyström P, Blom MA, Frick MA. Clinical Heterogeneity Among Preschoolers Recruited as Infants Due to Elevated Likelihood of Autism: A Sibling Study. Scand J Psychol. 2026.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and developmental language disorder (DLD) are neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) that share etiological factors and frequently co-occur. Despite this, they have rarely been studied together-particularly in relation to functional outcomes. In this study, we investigate the association between the developmental pattern of sustained visual attention in infancy and number of diagnoses, and map the clinical profile of 6-year-old children. A cohort of 6-year-olds, originally recruited in infancy due to elevated (n = 42) or low (n = 7) likelihood of ASD, were assessed for sustained visual attention, diagnostic outcomes, general adaptive functioning, intellectual abilities, and language skills. Participants were grouped based on the number of NDC diagnoses (ASD, ADHD, DLD, and/or Subthreshold ASD) they received at follow-up. We could not find statistical support for an association between sustained visual attention and number of diagnoses. Findings revealed no significant differences in adaptive functioning, intellectual abilities, or language skills between children with no diagnosis (n = 24) and those with a single diagnosis (n = 15). However, children with two or more diagnoses (n = 10) scored significantly lower in general adaptive functioning, intellectual ability, language production, and verbal comprehension compared to those with only one or no diagnosis. The results indicate that compared to children with only one diagnosis or no diagnosis, children with two or more diagnoses scored lower on several key functional domains, emphasizing the need to prioritize children with multiple diagnoses or confirmed functional impairment in clinical settings. Moreover, the findings indicate that a single diagnosis in preschool-aged children should not be a stand-alone outcome measure in sibling studies, if the goal is to identify early processes that predict meaningful differences in everyday functioning.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

3. Brown HK. Fertility Rates in Women With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: New Evidence and Ongoing Gaps. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2026.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

4. Choi HM, Cardona B, Kioumourtzoglou MA, Laden F, Hart J, Weisskopf MG. Perinatal exposure to gaseous pollutants and autism spectrum disorder in children: A nested case-control study in the nurses’ health study ii cohort. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2026.

Our objective was to explore the association between maternal exposure to gaseous air pollutants and the odds of ASD in their child. We conducted a nested case-control study of participants in the Nurses’ Health Study II (NHS II) children born 1990-2002 with ASD (n = 250) and without ASD (n = 1,539) were randomly selected using frequency matching for birth years. The monthly average for each gaseous pollutant O(3), NO(2), CO, and SO(2) were obtained from the daily values from the nearest 5 monitoring stations using distance-weighted averages from the nurse’s residence and averaged across months for different exposure windows. Logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of ASD. Per interquartile range (IQR) increase for each pollutant from mutually adjusted models were: O(3) in the 2nd trimester (OR per 0.007 ppm: 1.20; 95% CI: 0.96-1.50); SO(2) in the 9 months before pregnancy (OR per 5.54 ppb: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.33-3.83); NO(2) in the 3rd trimester (OR per 9.9 ppb = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.03-4.28); and CO in the 3 months after pregnancy (OR per 0.52 ppm: 1.36; 95% CI: 0.71-2.63). Our findings suggest different critical windows of exposure around pregnancy for different air pollutants.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

5. Dong X, Zhang T, Tang B, Zeng Q, Hu Z, Huang P, Xiong X, Wang X, Dong W, Cai Y. Microbial and metabolic profiles in autism spectrum disorder with atopic dermatitis in children. AMB Express. 2026.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

6. Eccles J, Weir E, Santhouse A, Brugha T. Autism and ADHD: does the global rise in diagnosed neurodivergence reflect increased awareness of undiagnosed cases?. Bmj. 2026; 392: r2648.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

7. Erwin J, Neill S, Vassallo T, Witton R, Peters L, Vassallo I, Nelder A, Paisi M. Exploring factors influencing autistic children and young people’s access to dental care in Southwest England: a qualitative study of children, parents, and dental professionals. BMC Oral Health. 2026.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

8. Gladfelter A, Parr A, Cannone A, O’Connor S. A Multistate Look Into Early Intervention Speech-Language Pathologists’ Confidence Identifying and Diagnosing Autism. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2026; 35(2): 712-29.

PURPOSE: Although autism can be reliably diagnosed by 18 months of age, long wait times and limited access to qualified providers prevent families from obtaining timely diagnostic services. Trained speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are qualified to diagnose autism, ideally as part of a multidisciplinary team. SLPs working on early intervention (EI) teams are well-situated to help close this diagnostic wait time gap. The purpose of this survey study was to explore EI SLPs’ experiences serving autistic children, confidence in identifying and diagnosing autism, and their perceptions of barriers or facilitators to diagnostic confidence and wait times. METHOD: Two hundred eighty-seven EI SLPs from 23 states responded to survey questions about experiences, beliefs, and confidence in diagnosing autism. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted to determine self-reported confidence, barriers, and facilitators. RESULTS: An overwhelming majority of EI SLPs felt confident in their ability to identify autism in toddlers. However, reported confidence in their ability to diagnose autism was much lower. Greater awareness of diagnosis as within our scope of practice, promoting autism acceptance (reducing caregiver resistance), and access to diagnostic tool training and diagnostic experts would reportedly increase confidence and potentially facilitate more timely diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that EI SLPs are confident in their ability to identify autism in toddlers; however, several barriers prevent them from diagnosing autism. Eliminating these barriers could help EI SLPs reduce the long diagnostic wait times experienced by families. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.31245082.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

9. Hwang H, Louie K, To CKS. Non-social Language Exposure Facilitates Autistic Children’s Language Learning. J Autism Dev Disord. 2026.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

10. Mochizuki T, Sawada N, Sugimura K, Shimura H, Kira S, Mitsui T. Adolescent Urethral Prolapse Complicated by Suspected Secondary Infection in a Girl With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2026; 52(3): e70240.

Urethral prolapse (UP) is an uncommon condition that typically affects prepubertal girls and postmenopausal women, with adolescent cases rarely reported. We describe an 18-year-old girl with autism spectrum disorder and chronic diarrhea who presented with genital bleeding and a circumferential mass arising from the external urethral meatus. Marked leukocytosis (22 030/μL), neutrophilia, and elevated C-reactive protein levels indicated a systemic inflammatory response, although urine culture yielded only normal flora. Cystoscopy confirmed UP without intravesical lesions. The patient was treated with bladder drainage and intravenous piperacillin-tazobactam, leading to normalization of inflammatory markers; however, the prolapse persisted and required surgical excision. Postoperatively, she experienced complete symptom resolution, including disappearance of prolonged toilet use. This case illustrates the importance of considering UP in adolescents presenting with vulvar masses and highlights how hygiene-related factors and voiding patterns may contribute to complications such as suspected secondary infection or severe local inflammation. Surgical excision was safe and effective.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

11. Nadwodny N, VanHook B, Esham B, Larsen LN, Levinson S, Eisenhower A. Good intentions are not enough: Autistic perspectives on structural ableism within the walls of our classrooms. Autism. 2026: 13623613261426691.

This study aimed to examine how structural ableism affects autistic learners by collecting first-person perspectives of current and former autistic students about how their school experiences shaped their ability to self-advocate. In addition, the study aimed to further highlight autistic perspectives by incorporating a community-participatory research design, which consisted of a primarily autistic research team. Participants consisted of 19 autistic adolescents and adults who represented a wide array of intersectional sociodemographic identities. Participants were engaged in a 90-min semi-structured interview to discuss their school experiences. Interviews were analyzed qualitatively and inductively through a critical constructivist approach to grounded theory. Data analysis highlighted many structural barriers to autistic self-advocacy for our participants. These barriers were described within six distinct domains which emerged as themes in our analysis: erasure, conformity, isolation, oppression, hidden expectations, and authority. This qualitative, community-participatory research study exposes the degree to which systems-level ableism exists within US K-12 systems. Specifically, our participants emphasized ableism that went beyond the individual or interpersonal level. We conclude with a series of recommendations on how to combat these manifestations of ableism in schools.Lay summaryThe goal of this study was to ask current and former autistic students about their school experiences and self-advocacy. Self-advocacy means being able to ask for what you need and to make your own choices. Nineteen autistic students were interviewed about self-advocacy at school. These autistic students told the research team that schools often made it hard for them to self-advocate. They also told the research team that schools were ableist, meaning that they did not respect the rights of disabled people. This study is important because it shows ways in which schools do not support autistic people and recommends ways for schools to treat autistic people better. This study is also important because the research team was mostly autistic. The expertise of autistic researchers on our team helped us create research that highlights autistic people’s voices.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

12. Nakano T, Awada S, Oizumi M, Kuwano D, Tanji K, Kato N, Saji N. Atypical Tactile Expressions Using Japanese Ideophones in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2026.

PURPOSE: Japanese ideophones (onomatopoeia) constitute a unique lexical system that conveys complex sensations and emotions through embodied sound symbolism. Because adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show weak sensitivity to sound-symbolism, their engagement with ideophones may diverge from that of typically developing (TD) adults. We addressed this possibility in two experiments involving adults with ASD who have normal language abilities and no sensory-processing abnormalities. METHODS: In Study 1, thirty-one tactile ideophones were rated on five physical and two emotional dimensions using a semantic-differential questionnaire. In Study 2, participants palpated 15 fabrics and selected all ideophones that captured each sensation. RESULTS: In Study 1, mean ratings, representational-similarity matrices, and response variabilities did not differ between groups, indicating that ASD adults share a semantic understanding of ideophones with TD adults. In Study 2, group-level choice distributions and the fabric representational-similarity structure based on those choices again aligned across ASD and TD groups. However, multidimensional scaling of individual choice profiles revealed pronounced dispersion in ASD. Two factors accounted for this variability: ASD participants selected fewer ideophones per fabric, and their ideophone combinations were highly idiosyncratic, whereas ideophone combinations were widely shared among TD individuals. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the results show that adults with ASD possess intact semantic representations of tactile ideophones yet adopt a more restricted and individualized strategy when translating concrete sensory experiences into linguistic expressions. This localized, less convergent usage may contribute to the qualitative communication difficulties often observed in ASD, despite intact lexical-semantic knowledge and representational similarity structures.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

13. Santos J, Santos LSD, Gonçalves CL. Brazil’s first national census estimate of autism prevalence: Implications for surveillance and policy in the Global South. Autism. 2026: 13623613261428537.

Autism prevalence data remain scarce in low- and middle-income countries. In 2022, Brazil incorporated, for the first time, a specific question on prior medical diagnosis of autism in its national census. Results from the preliminary publication of the 2022 Census sample, released in 2025, indicated that 1.2% of the population, approximately 2.42 million individuals, reported a diagnosis of autism. Among boys aged 5 to 9 years, prevalence reached 2.6%, declining to 1.6% among adolescents and 0.3% among adults aged 30 years or older. Although based on self-reported diagnosis, these data provide the first nationwide population estimate of autism in Brazil. Comparisons with U.S. figures from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network should be interpreted cautiously given methodological differences. The observed age gradient suggests potential historical under-identification in older cohorts. Regional variation further highlights differences in diagnostic patterns across the country. The inclusion of autism in Brazil’s national census represents an important step toward strengthening surveillance, research, and policy planning in low- and middle-income settings.Lay AbstractIn 2022, Brazil included, for the first time, a specific question on medical diagnosis of autism in its national census, as mandated by federal law. Results from the 2025 preliminary publication of the Census sample showed that 1.2% of the population reported a prior medical diagnosis of autism, totaling about 2.42 million people. Among boys aged 5 to 9 years, prevalence reached 2.6%, while rates were lower among adolescents and adults. This age pattern may reflect historical differences in access to diagnosis. Regional variation was also observed across states. Including autism in Brazil’s national census represents a major step forward for epidemiological monitoring and policy planning in Latin America.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

14. Selvam BJ, B M. Neuroqueer embodiment and nomadic subjectivity in autistic life writing. Med Humanit. 2026.

Autistic life writing refers to first-hand accounts of autistic lived experiences which challenge dominant deficit-based understandings of autism. Within autistic life writing, texts that directly address the relationship between autism, gender identity and sexuality have recently increased in number. However, scholarly work on the subject of neuroqueer embodiment (intentional expression of neurodivergence that queers both neuronormative and heteronormative standards) within these narratives is limited. This gap is particularly evident when considering anthologies that present multiple autobiographical narratives together in one textual space. This paper examines neuroqueer embodiment as represented in Spectrums: Autistic Transgender People in Their Own Words, an anthology of autistic life narratives edited by Maxfield Sparrow, using a feminist new materialist lens. Specifically, we use Rosi Braidotti’s nomadic subjectivity to explore neuroqueer embodiment.Nomadic theory emphasises the fluid nature of subjectivity and argues for a non-essentialist view of identity that is continually in the process of becoming. Using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA), four interconnected themes are identified: neuroqueer sensorimotor experiences, self-discovery, fluid identity and neuroqueer community, that collectively constitute a challenge to normative assumptions about cognition, gender identity and sexuality, opening up new onto-epistemic possibilities. Overall, this study attempts to (1) expand neuroqueer theory by emphasising the materiality of neuroqueer embodiment as expressed in life writing, (2) contribute to critical autism studies by offering a new interpretive framework for understanding the intersection between autism, gender and sexuality, and (3) contribute to medical humanities by demonstrating how neuroqueer embodiment challenges existing clinical frameworks which try to understand this intersection.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

15. Starr A, Qu X, Hong X, Safi S, Wang X. Individual and Combined Associations of Maternal Fever, Placental Inflammation, and Prematurity With Autism and ADHD. J Autism Dev Disord. 2026.

PURPOSE: Prenatal maternal immune activation (MIA) and preterm birth (PTB) have each been linked to increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, MIA definitions varied across studies and few investigations have examined their combined effects. This study assessed the relationship between MIA and NDDs using two MIA definitions: binary (fever and/or placental inflammation) and a four-level subtype (fever only, inflammation only, both, or neither); and examined the joint associations of MIA and PTB with NDDs. METHODS: This report includes 2,975 mother-child dyads. Adjusted logistic regressions estimated associations between MIA and NDDs. Additive interactions between MIA and PTB were assessed using the Relative Excess Risk due to Interaction (RERI). Mediation-moderation analyses examined the extent to which the association between MIA and ADHD was statistically explained by PTB. RESULTS: Binary MIA was associated with elevated odds of NDD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.33, 1.08-1.64) and ADHD (aOR = 1.71, 1.30-2.25). Using the four-level definition, the highest risk was among children exposed to both maternal fever and placental inflammation (NDD: aOR = 3.25, 1.87-5.66; ADHD: aOR = 3.16, 1.50-6.65). Co-occurrence of binary MIA and PTB yielded a RERI of 0.88 (0.28-1.48) for ADHD, while both (Fever + IUI) MIA subtype and PTB yielded RERI of 2.14 (0.66-3.62), indicating greater-than-additive joint associations. In mediation analyses, we found that the positive associations of MIA with NDD and ADHD were partly explained by PTB. CONCLUSION: Placental inflammation, more so than fever, is associated with NDDs and ADHD risk, supporting the value of MIA subtype measure. MIA and PTB are jointly associated with increased ADHD risk beyond additivity, and PTB partially mediated the association between MIA and ADHD.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

16. Uzquiano A. Shared developmental programs in ASD. Nat Neurosci. 2026; 29(3): 514.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

17. Wang X, Yu K, Liu S, Liang C, Wang Z. Through the long dark night: A phenomenological exploration of treatment-seeking experiences for autism in resource-limited settings. Autism. 2026: 13623613261426648.

Autism care in resource-limited regions faces systemic delays and fragmented services, yet the treatment-seeking experiences of families remain poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the experience of treatment-seeking for families with autistic children in resource-limited settings. A phenomenological study was conducted across three resource-limited regions. Semi-structured interviews with 44 caregivers were analyzed using Colaizzi’s framework and qualitative analysis software (NVivo 12). Data analysis identified eight subthemes falling into three macrothemes: (1) Socio-cognitive barriers in symptom recognition; (2) Structural vulnerabilities in care access; (3) Transformative adaptation pathways. The treatment-seeking journeys of families with autistic children in resource-limited settings are shaped by culturally rooted symptom misinterpretations, structural inequities, and adaptive resilience through redefined success metrics. These intersecting challenges trap families in cycles of delayed care and financial strain. Integrated community-based early screening, subsidized tiered services, and long-term care policies are urgently needed to alleviate familial strain and bridge systemic care gaps.Lay AbstractThis study explores the experiences of families seeking autism care in areas with limited resources. Through interviews with 44 caregivers across three regions in China, we found that misunderstandings about early autism symptoms, combined with limited access to specialized services, often lead to delayed diagnosis and high financial costs. Families also face emotional challenges and social stigma. Over time, many develop resilience by adjusting their expectations and finding support within their communities. The study highlights an urgent need for earlier community-based screening, affordable interventions, and stronger long-term support policies to better assist autistic children and their families.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

18. Wells T. Developmental Disability Long-Term Supports & Services Face Unprecedented Threats in North Carolina. N C Med J. 2025; 86(4).

North Carolina’s developmental disability community faces significant cuts to Medicaid-funded long-term support services. This worsens a system already experiencing two long-standing challenges: a long waiting list for services and a paid caregiver workforce shortage. Despite the challenges, there are some reasons to hope the challenges can be overcome.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

19. Whalon K, Therrien MCS, Dennis DL, Williams A. Parent-Implemented Shared Reading With Children Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication: A Mixed-Methods Investigation. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2026; 35(2): 638-56.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether virtual coaching of a shared reading intervention, Read MORe, increases parent use of interactive strategy during shared reading and the communication acts of their young children with autism (ages 3-6 years) using a visual scene display augmentative and alternative communication application. We also sought to understand parent perceptions of the goals, procedures, and outcomes of Read MORe, as well as the factors that influence parent strategy use. METHOD: The research design was a convergent mixed-methods design. We used a multiple-probe design across participants to investigate the impact of coaching on parent use of interactive shared reading strategies and child communication acts. We explored parent perceptions of social validity by collecting two types of qualitative data: (a) semistructured interviews and (b) caregiver reflections from weekly coaching sessions. Quantitative and qualitative data were then merged to provide a more in-depth understanding of the contextual factors that influenced parent strategy use. RESULTS: Following virtual coaching, all parents increased their Read MORe strategy use and two children increased their frequency of communication acts. Parents identified different goals for the intervention and varied in their perceptions of the strategies. Parents identified several factors related to preferences and daily life that influenced their use of Read MORe strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Online coaching is a viable option for teaching caregivers a variety of interactive strategies to support communication during shared reading activities. The findings highlight the importance of family-centered interventions that provide flexibility for families with differing communication goals. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.31325512.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

20. Yin H, Sun K, Wang C, Fan S, Wang J, He S, Lei HM, Pang S, Chen J, Zhang G. Shank3B deficiency disrupts GABAergic synaptic transmission in pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex region in autism spectrum disorder. Mol Brain. 2026.

Mutations in the SHANK3B gene have been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is integral to emotional processing and social behavior, and its atypical development is closely associated with ASD pathogenesis. However, the electrophysiological characteristics of pyramidal neurons within the mPFC and the mechanisms of their synaptic transmission remain inadequately characterized. In the present study, we conducted whole-cell patch-clamp recordings on mPFC pyramidal neurons in Shank3b knockout mice. We observed significant alterations in the membrane properties and excitability of mPFC pyramidal neurons in Shank3b knockout mice; these were accompanied by reduced inhibitory postsynaptic currents and deficiencies in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release or GABA(A) receptor transport. Additionally, RNA sequencing analysis of PFC tissue revealed differentially expressed genes in Shank3b knockout mice compared with WT mice, with these genes enriched in synaptic function and calcium channel signaling pathways. These findings are consistent with our ultrastructural observations of a reduced postsynaptic density at excitatory synapses, which may further contribute to the impaired number and morphology of pyramidal neurons in the mPFC. Our research offers new insights into the disruption of PFC circuitry that is caused by Shank3b deficiency and establishes connections between the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying ASD and synaptic structural anomalies, ion channel dysregulation, and excitatory/inhibitory imbalances. Together, these findings highlight the importance of Shank3b-mediated regulation of GABA signaling and modulation of intrinsic excitability as prospective therapeutic targets for ASD.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

21. Zhang A, Peng F, Lai W, Qu C, Zou L. Atypical Olfactory Identification, Memory and Metacognition in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2026.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

22. Zhao X, Cengher M, Li T, Cortez MD, Miguel CF. Evaluating tact instruction in two languages for bilingual children with autism spectrum disorder. J Appl Behav Anal. 2026; 59(2): e70058.

Bilingual individuals can acquire two languages simultaneously or sequentially. Study 1 examined the effects of simultaneous instruction (introducing tacts in both languages at the same time) and sequential instruction (introducing tacts in English, followed by a second language after mastery) with four children with autism. Both instructional procedures were effective, but simultaneous instruction promoted better conditional discriminations between the two languages than sequential instruction. Study 2 compared monolingual with bilingual (sequential) instruction with three participants. Teaching tacts in a single language was substantially more efficient than teaching tacts in two languages for all participants. As in Study 1, participants required additional simultaneous teaching after mastering sequentially taught targets to establish conditional discriminations, whereas monolingual instruction required no additional teaching. These results indicate that monolingual instruction is more efficient than sequential bilingual instruction, although sequential bilingual teaching can still be effective. The findings have important implications for designing bilingual instruction.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

23. Zukerman G, Ben-Itzchak E. Compulsion Profile Differences Indicate Distinct Functional Mechanisms in Autistic and Non-Autistic University Students. Autism Res. 2026: e70215.

Autistic individuals often exhibit high rates of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS), yet traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), especially exposure and response prevention (ERP), tends to be less effective for them. This may be due to differences in the function of compulsive behaviors: while OCD-related compulsions are typically ego-dystonic and aimed at reducing anxiety, autistic compulsions may be ego-syntonic, serving regulatory or sensory modulation purposes. This study investigated whether compulsions in autism are more aligned with regulation and sensory modulation than with anxiety reduction. Participants included 39 autistic university students, 25 non-autistic students with high OCS, and 25 non-autistic students with low OCS. A factor analysis of seven binary items from the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS-I) revealed two factors explaining 58% of the variance. The first factor showed high loadings for Repetition, Counting, and Hoarding compulsions, reflecting regulatory and sensory modulation processes. The second factor showed high loadings for checking and organizing compulsions that were previously associated with anxiety reduction. Chi-square analyses showed autistic students reported significantly more regulatory/sensory compulsions than low-OCS individuals. For anxiety-reduction compulsions, autistic students reported significantly fewer positive responses than both non-autistic groups. Trait and state anxiety correlated with OCS levels in non-autistic participants, but not in autistic individuals. These findings indicate that compulsions in autism may reflect distinct functional mechanisms compared to those in classical OCD. Specifically, the weaker association with anxiety or threat reduction suggests that ERP-based CBT, which targets anxiety-driven compulsions, may be less effective for autistic individuals. Broader implications for both diagnosis and therapeutic approaches are discussed. This study examined how physical activity and motivation for fitness are related to psychological well‐being following exposure to a large‐scale traumatic event. Results showed that people who engaged in more vigorous physical activity reported fewer physical stress symptoms, while those who strongly valued maintaining physical fitness reported greater happiness and fewer somatic complaints–especially among individuals directly exposed to trauma. These findings suggest that both engaging in physical activity and valuing physical fitness may help support psychological recovery following severe traumatic experiences. eng.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)