TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2024//
TI  - Examination of the potential moderating role of psychological wellbeing in the relationship between depression and thoughts of self-harm in autistic adolescents and adults: a two-year longitudinal study
JO  - Journal of autism and developmental disorders
A1  - Hedley, Darren
A1  - Uljarević, Mirko
A1  - Bury, Simon M.
A1  - Haschek, Alexandra
A1  - Richdale, Amanda L.
A1  - Trollor, Julian N.
A1  - Stokes, Mark A.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - PURPOSE: Autistic people have a significantly increased risk of death by suicide relative to the general population. In non-autistic samples, psychological wellbeing has been shown to moderate the relationship between depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior. Thoughts of self-harm may provide a useful indicator of suicidal risk. In this longitudinal study we examined (a) the potential role for psychological wellbeing to moderate the relationship between depressive symptoms and thoughts of self-harm and (b) the contribution of autistic traits to thoughts of self-harm. <br><br>METHODS: Participants were 209 autistic adolescents and adults aged 15 to 80 years (M(age) = 34.20, SD = 15.38 years). <br><br>RESULTS: At both baseline and 2-year follow-up, 35% of participants reported recent thoughts of self-harm. Wellbeing was associated with autistic traits (r = - .350 to - 0.404) and depression (r = - .480 to - 0.759). Thoughts of self-harm were positively associated with autistic traits and depression (r = .242 to 0.659), and negatively associated with wellbeing (r = - .287 to - 0.609). Controlling for baseline thoughts of self-harm, depression (β = 0.254, p = .001) and autistic traits (β = 0.162, p = .007) significantly predicted thoughts of self-harm at 2-year follow-up. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Despite a lack of support for the hypothesis that wellbeing would moderate the relationship between depression and thoughts of self-harm, correlational data demonstrated significant associations between wellbeing and both depression and thoughts of self-harm. Future research considering psychological wellbeing as a potential protective factor for self-harm in autistic people is warranted.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0162-3257
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06489-x
ID  - ref1
ER  -