Loneliness in daily life: a comparison between youths with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS)

Abstract: Loneliness is a negative emotional experience that can stem from a gap between expectations and the reality of social relationships. It is also a predictor of mental health. Loneliness is therefore important to investigate in neurodevelopmental populations with social fragility. This co-registered study involved 48 youths with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), 54 youths with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) and 65 typically developing youths (TD) aged 12-30. State loneliness was assessed with an Ecological Momentary Assessment. Paper-pencil questionnaires assessing attitude toward aloneness, trait loneliness and mental health were completed by the youths and their caregivers. A comparable level of state loneliness between clinical groups and TD were found, with greater loneliness when alone than in a social context. Clinical groups showed a greater intra-individual variability. Both individuals with ASD and 22q11DS revealed a greater affinity toward being alone than TD, but only individuals with ASD reported greater trait loneliness. However, no association was found with state loneliness. Emotional reactivity to loneliness was different between the clinical groups. Self-reported mental health only was associated with loneliness in the clinical groups. These results bring new knowledge on clinical populations with a deepening of the phenomenon of loneliness. This opens new reflections on the clinical care which must be adapted to their individual profile.