ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2024
Social Anxiety in Autistic People: Does the Clark and Wells Model fit?
Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Understanding Mechanisms that Maintain Social Anxiety Disorder in Autistic Individuals Through the Clark and Wells (1995) Model and Beyond: A Systematic Review.Clinical child and family psychology review · 2024Pooled it
- Exposure, Extinction, and Cognitive Appraisals in Autistic Adults With Social Anxiety: Evidence From a Structured Speech Exposure Task.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2026Article
- A qualitative evaluation of cognitive-behavioural therapy components for social anxiety in autistic adults: Lived experiences from a modified group program.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2026Article
- The impact of autism on the relations between social anxiety, camouflaging, and depression in Taiwanese adolescents.Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health · 2026Article
- Exploring the suitability of the Clark and Wells (1995) model of social anxiety in autistic adults: The role of mental imagery and fear of negative evaluation.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2026Article
- 'It's not always textbook social anxiety': A survey-based study investigating the nature of social anxiety and experiences of therapy in autistic people.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
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Abstract
purposeCognitive behaviour therapy based on the Clark and Wells (1995) model is a first-line treatment for neurotypical people seeking support for social anxiety. While autistic people frequently report high social anxiety, it is unclear how appropriate the model is for this population.
methodsOver 300 autistic and non-autistic adults completed an online survey measuring key variables of the Clark and Wells model (socially-related negative thoughts, safety behaviours, self-focused attention). Using multiple regression and structural equation modelling, we assessed whether these variables accounted for the link between autism and social fears.
resultsIn multiple regression, autistic people experienced greater social fears than expected based on Clark and Wells variables, and safety behaviours were less predictive of social fears in autistic people. In structural equation modelling, Clark and Wells variables only mediated half the link between autistic traits and social fears. In exploratory analysis, we found that distress relating to uncertainty was an additional variable that needed to be taken into consideration in the relationship between autistic traits and social fears.
conclusionThe Clark and Wells variables were relevant in autism, but did not fully explain elevated social fears in autistic people, which suggests that other factors are also important in accounting for social anxiety in autistic people. This means that therapy informed by the model may not be optimal for autistic people. We recommend further research developing adapted therapy for social anxiety in autistic people.
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