Attentional Processes in Youth with ASD and Co-Occurring Anxiety

Abstract

Prior research suggested that attentional control plays a role in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders in youth. Research also suggests that youth on the autism spectrum suffer from difficulties in executive functioning, including attentional control. The current study investigated the relationship between attentional control and autism spectrum symptoms. The relationship between attentional control, anxiety, and emotion regulation skills was also explored. Participants were 76 treatment seeking youth between the ages of 7 and 17 (Mage = 11.05, SD = 2.99) who met diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder and had either minimal symptoms of autism spectrum disorder or severe levels of autism symptoms. Results failed to find evidence that those with severe autism symptoms had more attentional control difficulties than those with minimal autism symptoms. The results also failed to show a link between anxiety levels and attentional control variables, as well as a link between emotion regulation and attentional control. Consistent with previous research, poor emotion regulation skills were correlated with higher levels of anxiety. Potential reasons for lack of significant findings are discussed, as well as implications for the present data on current research.