Relationship between autistic traits, emotional symptoms and adverse life events in Chinese adolescents: mediating effects of resilience

Background To explore the relationship between autistic traits (AT), emotional symptoms, and adverse life events among adolescents in the Chinese general population, and examine whether resilience mediates autistic traits and emotional symptoms, as well as adverse life events. Methods 5666 current middle school students were enrolled to assess autistic traits using the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ), emotional symptoms using the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), adverse life events using the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check-List (ALSEC), and resilience using the Resilience Scale for Chinese Adolescent (RSCA). Spearman correlations and linear regression analyses were used to explore the relationship between the scores of ASSQ, SCARED, CDI, and ASLEC. The Bootstrap percentile confidence method was used to analyze the potential mediating role of resilience. Results There were significant positive correlations between the ASSQ total score and its three subscales, including Social Interaction (ASSQ-SI), Communication Problems (ASSQ-CP), and Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors (ASSQ-RRB), and the scores of CDI, SCARED, and ASLEC; ASSQ-SI and ASSQ-RRB were significant positive predictors of the CDI, SCARED, and ASLEC; ASSQ-SI had a significant positive predictive effect on the four subscales of the ASLEC (Relationships Pressure, Academic Pressure, Being Punished, Loss, and Adaption Problem); RSCA (individual power and supportive power) mediated the ASSQ and CDI, SCARED, and ALSEC. Conclusion Significant relationships exist between autistic traits and emotional symptoms and adverse life events in Chinese general population adolescents, and resilience mediates the autistic traits and emotional symptoms and adverse life events.