Broad Autism Phenotype and Depression: The Meditation Effect of Social Anxiety

A broad autism phenotype (BAP) is a milder expression and subclinical level of autistic traits. BAP is typically observed in the families and relatives of individuals diagnosed with ASD, although such traits can also be found in the general population. The BAP group is known to show a higher level of depression than the general population, but the mechanism has not been well explored. This study aimed to examine the role of social anxiety in the relationship between the broad autism phenotype and depression. To this end, we administered self-reports assessing the level of broad autism phenotype, social anxiety, and depression to 495 university students, and conducted correlation and mediation analyses on the collected data. Our results showed that broad autism phenotype, social anxiety, and depression were positively correlated. In addition, it was found that social anxiety partially mediates the relationship between broad autism phenotype and depression. These findings suggest that it is necessary to consider interpersonal features such as social anxiety when treating depressive symptoms in individuals with a broad autism phenotype.