Loneliness and susceptibility to social pain mediate the association between autistic traits and psychotic experiences in young non-clinical adults

Understanding of the mechanisms involved in the occurrence of psychotic experiences (PEs) in highly autistic individuals is crucial for identifying appropriate prevention and intervention strategies. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of susceptibility to social pain and loneliness in the relationship between autistic traits (ATs) and PEs in adults from the general population of 12 Arab countries. This cross-sectional study is part of a large-scale multi-country research project. A total of 7646 young adults (age range 18-35 years, mean age of 22.55 ± 4.00 years and 75.5% females) from twelve Arab countries (i.e., Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, and Tunisia) were included. Mediation analyses showed that, after adjusting over confounding variables, both loneliness (indirect effect: Beta = 0.18; Boot SE = 0.02; Boot CI 0.14; 0.21) and social pain (indirect effect: Beta = 0.03; Boot SE = 0.01; Boot CI 0.001; 0.05) partially mediated the association between ATs and PEs. Higher ATs were significantly associated with more loneliness and susceptibility to social pain, and directly associated with more severe PEs. Finally, higher loneliness and susceptibility to social pain were significantly associated with greater PEs scores. Findings indicated that individuals with higher ATs tend to experience greater loneliness and feel more pain from rejection, which can in turn be associated with higher levels of PEs. Interventions targeting susceptibility to social pain and loneliness as a means of mitigating PEs among highly autistic adults should be considered.

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Publication Details

Journal
Scientific Reports
Published
2025-03-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90597-w
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.44
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article

Loneliness and susceptibility to social pain mediate the association between autistic traits and psychotic experiences in young non-clinical adults

Majda Cheour, Btissame Zarrouq, Rizwana Amin, L. S. Chaibi et al.
1 citations
Scientific Reports
Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
2.44
article

Loneliness and susceptibility to social pain mediate the association between autistic traits and psychotic experiences in young non-clinical adults

Majda Cheour, Btissame Zarrouq, Rizwana Amin, L. S. Chaibi, Omar Abdulwahid AlAni, Sahar Obeïd, Mai Helmy, Alexandre Andrade Loch, Fouad Sakr, Sinan Subhi Farhan, Nisma Merdad, Diana Malaeb, Mariam Dabbous, Souheil R. Hallit, Kamel Jebreen, Abdul Rasool Bassam Hassan, Inad Nawajah, Ali Haider Mohammed, Nedjem Eddine Boudouda, Mohammed Lakhdar Roubi, Amthal Alhuwailah, Abdallah Y. Naser, Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Hanaa Ahmed
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Understanding of the mechanisms involved in the occurrence of psychotic experiences (PEs) in highly autistic individuals is crucial for identifying appropriate prevention and intervention strategies. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of susceptibility to social pain and loneliness in the relationship between autistic traits (ATs) and PEs in adults from the general population of 12 Arab countries. This cross-sectional study is part of a large-scale multi-country research project. A total of 7646 young adults (age range 18-35 years, mean age of 22.55 ± 4.00 years and 75.5% females) from twelve Arab countries (i.e., Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, and Tunisia) were included. Mediation analyses showed that, after adjusting over confounding variables, both loneliness (indirect effect: Beta = 0.18; Boot SE = 0.02; Boot CI 0.14; 0.21) and social pain (indirect effect: Beta = 0.03; Boot SE = 0.01; Boot CI 0.001; 0.05) partially mediated the association between ATs and PEs. Higher ATs were significantly associated with more loneliness and susceptibility to social pain, and directly associated with more severe PEs. Finally, higher loneliness and susceptibility to social pain were significantly associated with greater PEs scores. Findings indicated that individuals with higher ATs tend to experience greater loneliness and feel more pain from rejection, which can in turn be associated with higher levels of PEs. Interventions targeting susceptibility to social pain and loneliness as a means of mitigating PEs among highly autistic adults should be considered.

Scientific ReportsVol. 15(1)
University of Bahrain (BH), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (BR), Monash University Malaysia (MY), Hebron University (PS), Effat University (SA), Applied Science Private University (JO), Gulf Medical University (AE), An-Najah National University (PS), Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (LB), Alrafidain University College (IQ), Palestine Technical University - Kadoorie (PS), Kuwait University (KW), Palestine Polytechnic University (PS), University of Guelma (DZ), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Badr University in Cairo (EG), Hôpital Razi de La Manouba (TN), Sultan Qaboos University (OM), Lebanese American University (LB), Tunis El Manar University (TN), Fayoum University (EG), Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University (MA), Lebanese International University (LB), Isra University (JO)
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
2.44
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