Autistic Features, Social Camouflaging, and Identity Formation Within a Non-Clinical College Student Population

Research on autistic features and identity development has indicated that autistic traits are positively associated with disturbances in identity development. Characteristic attributes of autism, such as circumscribed interests and differences in social relatedness, align with self-rumination and challenges in navigating the components of identity formation. Nonetheless, research on this topic remains scarce. The present study examined the association between autistic features and identity formation processes in a non-clinical population while accounting for sociocultural factors, specifically social camouflaging and gender conformity. The sample consisted of college students enrolled in a large metropolitan city (N = 427) who completed an anonymous online survey battery. Autistic features were positively associated with both ruminative identity exploration and identity distress. Social camouflaging mediated these relationships, suggesting that the concealment of autistic traits may contribute to maladaptive identity formation rather than autistic traits themselves. Gender conformity further moderated the effect, with higher levels of conformity to traditional gender roles weakening the relationship between autistic features and social camouflaging. These findings signify the relevant role of social camouflaging in the relationship between autistic features and identity disturbances, highlighting the need for interventions and assessments that consider its prevalence and manifestation.