Exploring the Link between Autistic Traits, Emotional
Intelligence, and Self-efficacy in Understanding Social Anhedonia

Usha      Barahmand; Kefira      Carvey; Naila      Shamsina; Angelica   Mae   Ancheta; Oscar      Sanchez

doi:10.2174/0126660822265651231215074803

Abstract

Background: Autism severity has been found to be associated with social anhedonia. However, the mechanisms linking the two have not been clarified.

Objective: The study was designed to examine the link between autistic traits and social anhedonia. The present study tested a serial mediation model, in which it was hypothesized that emotional intelligence and self-efficacy were serial mediators of the relationship between autistic traits and social anhedonia.

Methods: Data from 245 participants (57.4% females, n = 134) ranging in age from 18 to 65 years were collected through self-report. Participants completed an online composite questionnaire consisting of The Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory, the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, The General Self-Efficacy Scale and the Revised Social Anhedonia Scale.

Results: The relationship between autistic traits and social anhedonia was mediated by emotional intelligence and serially mediated by emotional intelligence and self-efficacy. Self-efficacy alone failed to link autistic traits to social anhedonia.

Conclusion: The study provides evidence for the significant role of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy as mechanisms underlying the relationship between autistic traits and social anhedonia. The findings are discussed in terms of elucidating the processes through which autistic traits may confer vulnerability to compromised emotional intelligence and self-efficacy, which then serve as additional risk factors for social anhedonia.

Keywords: Autistic traits, emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, social anhedonia, autism, psychopathology.

« Previous Next »

Graphical Abstract

[1]
Blanchard JJ, Collins LM, Aghevli M, Leung WW, Cohen AS. Social anhedonia and schizotypy in a community sample: The Maryland longitudinal study of schizotypy. Schizophr Bull  2011; 37(3): 587-602.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbp107] [PMID: 19850669]

[2]
Association AP. Diagnostic statistical manual of mental disorders.  (5th ed.), Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association 2022.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787]

[3]
Cohen AS, Couture SM, Blanchard JJ. Social anhedonia and clinical outcomes in early adulthood: A three-year follow-up study within a community sample. Schizophr Res  2020; 223: 213-9.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2020.07.024] [PMID: 32792232]

[4]
Dawson G, Webb SJ, McPartland J. Understanding the nature of face processing impairment in autism: Insights from behavioral and electrophysiological studies. Dev Neuropsychol  2005; 27(3): 403-24.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15326942dn2703_6] [PMID: 15843104]

[5]
Chevallier C, Grèzes J, Molesworth C, Berthoz S, Happé F. Brief report: Selective social anhedonia in high functioning autism. J Autism Dev Disord  2012; 42(7): 1504-9.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1364-0] [PMID: 21986875]

[6]
Wang Y, Deng Y, Fung G, et al. Distinct structural neural patterns of trait physical and social anhedonia: Evidence from cortical thickness, subcortical volumes and inter-regional correlations. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging  2014; 224(3): 184-91.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2014.09.005] [PMID: 25288478]

[7]
Yang Z, Zhang R, Li Y, et al. Functional connectivity of the default mode network is associated with prospection in schizophrenia patients and individuals with social anhedonia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry  2019; 92: 412-20.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.02.008] [PMID: 30822447]

[8]
Kennedy DP, Adolphs R. The social brain in psychiatric and neurological disorders. Trends Cogn Sci  2012; 16(11): 559-72.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2012.09.006] [PMID: 23047070]

[9]
Martin AK, Dzafic I, Robinson GA, Reutens D, Mowry B. Mentalizing in schizophrenia: A multivariate functional MRI study. Neuropsychologia   2016; 93((Pt A): 158-66.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.10.013] [PMID: 27793657]

[10]
Shi L, Zhou H, Wang Y, et al. Altered empathy-related resting-state functional connectivity in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Asian J Psychiatr  2020; 53: 102167.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102167] [PMID: 32474345]

[11]
Martin R, McKenzie K, Metcalfe D, Pollet T, McCarty K. A preliminary investigation into the relationship between empathy, autistic like traits and emotion recognition. Pers Individ Dif  2019; 137: 12-6.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.07.039]

[12]
Ramachandra V, Longacre H. Unmasking the psychology of recognizing emotions of people wearing masks: The role of empathizing, systemizing, and autistic traits. Pers Individ Dif  2022; 185: 111249.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111249] [PMID: 36540395]

[13]
Cole EJ, Barraclough NE, Andrews TJ. Reduced connectivity between mentalizing and mirror systems in autism spectrum condition. Neuropsychologia  2019; 122: 88-97.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.11.008] [PMID: 30468777]

[14]
De Groot K, Van Strien JW. Evidence for a broad autism phenotype. Adv Neurodev Disord  2017; 1(3): 129-40.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41252-017-0021-9]

[15]
Happé F, Ronald A, Plomin R. Time to give up on a single explanation for autism. Nat Neurosci  2006; 9(10): 1218-20.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nn1770] [PMID: 17001340]

[16]
Poljac E, Poljac E, Wagemans J. Reduced accuracy and sensitivity in the perception of emotional facial expressions in individuals with high autism spectrum traits. Autism  2013; 17(6): 668-80.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1362361312455703] [PMID: 22987888]

[17]
Robertson AE, Simmons DR. The relationship between sensory sensitivity and autistic traits in the general population. J Autism Dev Disord  2013; 43(4): 775-84.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1608-7] [PMID: 22832890]

[18]
Gökçen E, Petrides KV, Hudry K, Frederickson N, Smillie LD. Sub-threshold autism traits: The role of trait emotional intelligence and cognitive flexibility. Br J Psychol  2014; 105(2): 187-99.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12033] [PMID: 24754807]

[19]
Palmer CJ, Paton B, Enticott PG, Hohwy J. ‘Subtypes’ in the presentation of autistic traits in the general adult population. J Autism Dev Disord  2015; 45(5): 1291-301.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2289-1] [PMID: 25337855]

[20]
Boily R, Kingston SE, Montgomery JM. Trait and ability emotional intelligence in adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorder. Can J Sch Psychol  2017; 32(3-4): 282-98.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0829573517717160]

[21]
Salovey P, Stroud LR, Woolery A, Epel ES. Perceived emotional intelligence, stress reactivity, and symptom reports: Further explorations using the trait meta-mood scale. Psychol Health  2002; 17(5): 611-27.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08870440290025812]

[22]
Pauletto M, Grassi M, Passolunghi MC, Penolazzi B. Psychological well-being in childhood: The role of trait emotional intelligence, regulatory emotional self-efficacy, coping and general intelligence. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry  2021; 26(4): 1284-97.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13591045211040681] [PMID: 34416833]

[23]
Xie W, Yan C, Ying X, et al. Domain-specific hedonic deficits towards social affective but not monetary incentives in social anhedonia. Sci Rep  2014; 4(1): 4056.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep04056] [PMID: 24514898]

[24]
Werner-Seidler A, Banks R, Dunn BD, Moulds ML. An investigation of the relationship between positive affect regulation and depression. Behav Res Ther  2013; 51(1): 46-56.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2012.11.001] [PMID: 23178678]

[25]
McCarthy SA, Ford TC, Lomas JE, Stough C. Subclinical autistic traits mediate the relationship between emotional intelligence and resiliency in adolescents. Pers Individ Dif  2020; 158: 109845.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.109845]

[26]
Huggins CF, Cameron IM, Williams JHG. Autistic traits predict underestimation of emotional abilities. J Exp Psychol Gen  2021; 150(5): 930-42.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/xge0000784] [PMID: 33001689]

[27]
Higuchi Y, Inagaki M, Koyama T, et al. Emotional intelligence and its effect on pharmacists and pharmacy students with autistic-like traits. Am J Pharm Educ  2017; 81(4): 74.
 [PMID: 28630515]

[28]
Robinson E, Hull L, Petrides KV. Big Five model and trait emotional intelligence in camouflaging behaviours in autism. Pers Individ Dif  2020; 152: 109565.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.109565]

[29]
Mayer JD, Caruso DR, Salovey P. Emotional intelligence meets traditional standards for an intelligence. Intelligence  1999; 27(4): 267-98.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0160-2896(99)00016-1]

[30]
Bandura A. Social cognitive theory: An agentic perspective. Annu Rev Psychol  2001; 52(1): 1-26.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.1] [PMID: 11148297]

[31]
Buckley E, Pellicano E, Remington A. Higher levels of autistic traits associated with lower levels of self-efficacy and wellbeing for performing arts professionals. PLoS One  2021; 16(2): e0246423.

[32]
Lorenz T, Heinitz K. Aspergers-different, not less: Occupational strengths and job interests of individuals with Asperger’s syndrome. PLoS One  2014; 9(6): 8-9.

[33]
Ritsner MS, Ratner Y, Mendyk N, Gooding DC. The characterization of social anhedonia and its correlates in schizophrenia and schizoaffective patients. Psychiatry Res  2018; 270: 922-8.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2018.11.003] [PMID: 30551345]

[34]
Cassar R, Applegate E, Bentall RP. Poor savouring and low self-efficacy are predictors of anhedonia in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Psychiatry Res  2013; 210(3): 830-4.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2013.09.017] [PMID: 24135552]

[35]
Zhang Y, Jin S. The impact of social support on postpartum depression: The mediator role of self-efficacy. J Health Psychol  2016; 21(5): 720-6.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1359105314536454] [PMID: 24925546]

[36]
Spitzen TL, Tull MT, Gratz KL. The roles of emotion regulation self-efficacy and emotional avoidance in self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Arch Suicide Res  2022; 26(2): 595-613.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2020.1818654]

[37]
Fatima S, Sharif S, Khalid I. How does religiosity enhance psychological well-being? Roles of self-efficacy and perceived social support. Psychol Relig Spiritual  2018; 10(2): 119-27.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/rel0000168]

[38]
Xie J, Liu M, Zhong Z, et al. Relationships among character strengths, self-efficacy, social support, depression, and psychological well-being of hospital nurses. Asian Nurs Res  2020; 14(3): 150-7.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2020.06.002] [PMID: 32640295]

[39]
Bodhraj K, Sharma OP, Mridula Pal S. Role of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy on psychological well-being in psychiatrist. Indian J Health Wellbeing  2017; 8(7): 877-6.

[40]
Markou P, Ahtam B, Papadatou-Pastou M. Elevated levels of atypical handedness in autism: Meta-analyses. Neuropsychol Rev  2017; 27(3): 258-83.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11065-017-9354-4] [PMID: 28735387]

[41]
English MCW, Gignac GE, Visser TAW, Whitehouse AJO, Enns JT, Maybery MT. The Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory (CATI): Development and validation of a new measure of autistic traits in the general population. Mol Autism  2021; 12(1): 37.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-021-00445-7] [PMID: 34001225]

[42]
Wong CS, Law KS. The effects of leader and follower emotional intelligence on performance and attitude. Leadersh Q  2002; 13(3): 243-74.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1048-9843(02)00099-1]

[43]
Schwarzer R, Jerusalem M. Generalized self-efficacy scaleMeasures in health psychology: A user’s portfolio Causal and control beliefs.  Windsor, U.K.: NFER-NELSON 1995; pp. 35-7.

[44]
Eckblad M, Chapman LJ, Chapman JP, Mishlove M. The Revised Social Anhedonia Scale. APA PsycNet 1982.

[45]
Li LY, Cicero DC, Dodell-Feder D, Germine L, Martin EA. Comparability of social anhedonia across epidemiological dimensions: A multinational study of measurement invariance of the Revised Social Anhedonia Scale. Psychol Assess  2021; 33(2): 171-9.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pas0000972] [PMID: 33090825]

[46]
Hayes AF. Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approacH.  (3rd ed.), Beaverton: Ringgold, Inc 2022.

[47]
Chevallier C, Grèzes J, Molesworth C, Berthoz S, Happé F. Brief Report: Selective Social Anhedonia in High Functioning Autism. J Autism Developmen Disord  2011; 42(7): 1504-9.

[48]
Eack SM, Mazefsky CA, Minshew NJ. Misinterpretation of facial expressions of emotion in verbal adults with autism spectrum disorder. Autism  2015; 19(3): 308-15.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1362361314520755] [PMID: 24535689]

[49]
Clements CC, Zoltowski AR, Yankowitz LD, Yerys BE, Schultz RT, Herrington JD. Evaluation of the social motivation hypothesis of autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry  2018; 75(8): 797-808.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.1100]

[50]
Han GT, Tomarken AJ, Gotham KO. Social and nonsocial reward moderate the relation between autism symptoms and loneliness in adults with ASD, depression, and controls. Autism Res  2019; 12(6): 884-96.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.2088] [PMID: 30825364]

[51]
Guineau MG, Ikani N, Rinck M, Collard RM, van Eijndhoven P, Tendolkar I, et al. Anhedonia as a transdiagnostic symptom across psychological disorders: A network approach. Psychol Med  2022; 1.
 [PMID: 35348051]

[52]
Gökçen E, Petrides KV, Hudry K, Frederickson N, Smillie LD. Sub-threshold autism traits: The role of trait emotional intelligence and cognitive flexibility. British Journal of Psychology  2014; 105(2): 187-99.

[53]
Abdollahi A, Hosseinian S, Rasuli R. Emotional intelligence moderates anhedonia and suicidal ideation in depressed patients. Psychol Rep  2020; 123(3): 660-73.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0033294119833023] [PMID: 30813838]

[54]
Burke SL, Li T, Grudzien A, Garcia S. Brief report: Improving employment interview self-efficacy among adults with autism and other developmental disabilities using virtual interactive training agents (ViTA). J Autism Dev Disord  2021; 51(2): 741-8.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04571-8] [PMID: 32642959]

[55]
Wang K, Yang Y, Zhang T, Ouyang Y, Liu B, Luo J. The relationship between physical activity and emotional intelligence in college students: The mediating role of self-efficacy. Front Psychol  2020; 11: 967.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00967] [PMID: 32581908]

[56]
Rizzo JM, Schwartz RC. The effect of mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and emotional intelligence on self-efficacy and functional outcomes among chronic pain clients. J Contemp Psychother  2021; 51(2): 109-16.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10879-020-09481-5]

[57]
Luque-Reca O, Augusto-Landa JM, Pulido-Martos M. Emotional intelligence and depressive symptoms in Spanish institutionalized elders: does emotional self-efficacy act as a mediator? PeerJ  2016; 4: e2246.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2246]

[58]
Hamzah SR, Kai Le K, Musa SNS. The mediating role of career decision self-efficacy on the relationship of career emotional intelligence and self-esteem with career adaptability among university students. Int J Adolesc Youth  2021; 26(1): 83-93.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2021.1886952]

[59]
Ling S, Raine A, Gao Y, Schug R. The mediating role of emotional intelligence on the autonomic functioning – Psychopathy relationship. Biol Psychol  2018; 136: 136-43.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2018.05.012] [PMID: 29879434]

[60]
Kwan CK, Kwok SYCL. The impact of childhood emotional abuse on adolescents’ subjective happiness: the mediating role of emotional intelligence. Appl Res Qual Life  2021; 16(6): 2387-401.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11482-021-09916-8]

[61]
Cheng X, Ma Y, Li J, Cai Y, Li L, Zhang J. Mindfulness and psychological distress in kindergarten teachers: The mediating role of emotional intelligence. Int J Environ Res Public Health  2020; 17(21): 8212.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17218212] [PMID: 33172124]

[62]
Zhao J, Xiang Y, Zhang W, Dong X, Zhao J, Li Q. Childhood maltreatment affects depression and anxiety: The mediating role of emotional intelligence. Int J Ment Health Addict  2021; 19(6): 2021-30.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00297-x]

[63]
Santos A, Wang W, Lewis J. Emotional intelligence and career decision-making difficulties: The mediating role of career decision self-efficacy. J Vocat Behav  2018; 107: 295-309.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2018.05.008]

[64]
Chan XW, Kalliath T, Brough P, Siu OL, O’Driscoll MP, Timms C. Work-family enrichment and satisfaction: The mediating role of self-efficacy and work–life balance. Int J Hum Resour Manage  2016; 27(15): 1755-76.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2015.1075574]

[65]
Zeb S, Akbar A, Gul A, Haider SA, Poulova P, Yasmin F. Work0-family conflict, emotional intelligence, and general self-efficacy among medical practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychol Res Behav Manag  2021; 14: 1867-76.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S333070] [PMID: 34815724]

[66]
Gong J, He Y, Zhou L, et al. Associations of autistic traits, executive dysfunction and the FKBP5 gene with emotion regulation in Chinese college students. Pers Individ Dif  2022; 186: 111293.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111293]

[67]
Ke T, Barlas J. Thinking about feeling: Using trait emotional intelligence in understanding the associations between early maladaptive schemas and coping styles. Psychol Psychother  2020; 93(1): 1-20.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/papt.12202] [PMID: 30369013]

[68]
Santoro G, Ferraris A, Del Giudice M, Schiavone F. Self-efficacy and success of disadvantaged entrepreneurs: The moderating role of resilience. Eur Manag Rev  2020; 17(3): 719-32.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/emre.12394]

[69]
Fredrickson BL. The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Am Psychol  2001; 56(3): 218-26.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.218] [PMID: 11315248]

[70]
Schneider TR, Lyons JB, Khazon S. Emotional intelligence and resilience. Pers Individ Dif  2013; 55(8): 909-14.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.460]

[71]
Quezada L, González MT, Mecott GA. Explanatory model of resilience in pediatric burn survivors. J Burn Care Res  2016; 37(4): 216-25.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/BCR.0000000000000261] [PMID: 26056758]

[72]
Hinz A, Friedrich M, Kuhnt S, Zenger M, Schulte T. The influence of self-efficacy and resilient coping on cancer patients’ quality of life. Eur J Cancer Care  2019; 28(1): e12652.

[73]
Amirshamsi M, Shahrbabaki PM, Dehghan M. Coping strategies for stress and self-efficacy in patients with cancer and their spouses. Cancer Nurs  2022; 45(2): E614-20.
 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000001010] [PMID: 34483285]

Rights & Permissions Print Cite

Article Metrics

13

2

Journal Information

For Authors

For Editors

For Reviewers

Explore Articles

Open Access

Open Access Articles

For Visitors

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0126660822265651231215074803	Print ISSN 2666-0822
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 2666-0830

Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews

Exploring the Link between Autistic Traits, Emotional Intelligence, and Self-efficacy in Understanding Social Anhedonia

Abstract

Graphical Abstract

Related Journals

Related Books