Autistic adults often report higher stress and lower life satisfaction compared to non-autistic peers. Researchers from the NAR, together with GGz Centraal, investigated how internalized stigma and loneliness contribute to these outcomes, extending the Psychological Mediation Framework (PMF) to autism.

The study analyzed survey data from 831 autistic adults aged 18–87. Results indicate that autistic traits alone had limited association with stress or life satisfaction. In contrast, internalized autism-related stigma, emotional loneliness (lack of close relationships), and social loneliness (limited social network) were strongly linked to higher stress and lower life satisfaction. Emotional loneliness partly mediated the relationship between internalized stigma and these outcomes, highlighting the central role of meaningful social connections.

These findings suggest that interventions aiming to improve the mental health of autistic adults should not only address individual coping strategies but also target societal stigma and promote social inclusion. Future research could explore additional psychological processes, such as social masking and self-compassion, to better support autistic adults in everyday life.

For more information, read the full article: Extending the Minority Stress Model of Autism: Internalized Stigma and Loneliness as Predictors of Stress and Life Satisfaction - Alvin van Asselt, Yvette Roke, Sander Begeer, Anke M Scheeren, 2026