The Relationship Between Autistic Traits and Depression: The Chain Mediating Roles of Interpersonal Competence and Social Avoidance and Distress.

Yongsheng Wang, Guangyi Lv, Daoyi Liu, Xin Li, Peng Li, Xiaolei Gao

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yongsheng WangKey Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.

Guangyi LvFaculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.

Daoyi LiuFaculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.

Xin LiKey Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.

Peng LiKey Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.ORCID 0000-0001-8678-590X

Xiaolei GaoPlateau Brain Science Research Center, Xizang University, Lhasa 850000, China.ORCID 0000-0002-1041-8705

Funding

Natural Science Foundation of China 32260204Xizang University 2025 Central Financial Support for Reform and Development of Local Universities 00061355/008

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Individuals with high autistic traits typically face a higher risk of depression, making it necessary to explore the relationship between autistic traits and depression in depth. Building on previous research, this study further investigates the roles of interpersonal competence, social avoidance and distress in the relationship between autistic traits and depression. A total of 674 college students were surveyed online using the Chinese version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (ICQ), the Chinese version of the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SAD), and the Chinese version of the 13-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Correlation analysis results indicate that autistic traits exhibit a significant negative correlation with interpersonal skills, while showing a significant positive correlation with social distress, social avoidance, and depression levels. Conversely, interpersonal skills demonstrate a significant negative correlation with social avoidance, distress, and depression. Social avoidance and distress showed a significant positive correlation with depression. Chain mediation analysis revealed that interpersonal skills exerted a chain mediating effect between autistic traits and depression via social avoidance and distress. These findings provide insights for further exploration of the relationship and mechanisms underlying autistic traits and depression in individuals.

Indexed as

autistic traitschained mediationdepressioninterpersonal competencesocial avoidance and distress

Identifiers

PMID41464001

DOI10.3390/bs15121658

PMCPMC12729959

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

LicenceCC BY

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.