Title
What Impact Does the Broad Autism Phenotype Have on Mental Health? Examining Mediating Factors
Date of Award
Spring 2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Van Hecke, Amy V.
Second Advisor
Saunders, Stephan
Third Advisor
de St. Aubin, Ed.
Abstract
Using a non-clinical sample of individuals with a range of broad autism phenotype (BAP) symptoms, the current study examined the mechanisms behind relationships amongst the BAP, intolerance of uncertainty, self-esteem, friendship quality, depression, and anxiety. Correlation, simple mediation, and parallel mediation models were used to predict whether: 1) there are significant relationships amongst BAP symptoms, self-esteem, friendship quality, intolerance of uncertainty, depression, and anxiety; 2) self-esteem, friendship quality, or intolerance of uncertainty mediates the relationship between BAP symptoms and mental health outcomes; 3) one mediator accounts for the majority of the relationship between BAP symptoms and mental health outcomes. These models were tested using self-report measures of each factor. Results indicated that both intolerance of uncertainty and self-esteem were significant mediators of the relationship between BAP and mental health. Methods and results are discussed further. The results have high impact by identifying the mechanisms behind depression and anxiety, in a non-clinical population at greater risk for poorer mental health outcomes.