Investigating Relationships Between Inhibitory Control and Anxiety Symptomatology in Autistic Adults

PurposeAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with elevated rates of mental health difficulties and executive function challenges. There is emerging evidence that executive function is associated with mental health. However, less is known about a) everyday inhibitory control difficulties among autistic adults; b) the influence of sex assigned at birth and co-occurring attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) features on inhibitory control challenges; and c) relations between inhibitory control challenges and anxiety symptoms.MethodsDrawing upon data from 732 autistic adults aged 18-83, this study examined self-reported inhibitory control in autistic adults and the influence of assigned sex and suspected co-occurring ADHD on the degree of inhibitory control challenges experienced. In addition, this research examined relations between inhibitory control challenges and anxiety symptoms, and the moderating role of assigned sex and suspected ADHD status in this relationship.ResultsAutistic adults endorsed significantly more challenges in inhibitory control relative to published norms. Participants assigned female at birth reported more difficulties in inhibitory control relative to sex-adjusted normative expectations than participants assigned male, and participants suspected to have co-occurring ADHD reported more inhibitory control challenges than those not suspected to have ADHD. Greater endorsement of inhibitory control challenges was associated with greater anxiety symptomatology; this relationship was moderated by suspected ADHD status, but not by assigned sex.ConclusionInhibitory control is an area of difficulty in this group and is associated with anxiety symptomatology, suggesting that inhibitory control may be a valuable intervention target to improve emotional well-being in autistic adults.