Social Camouflaging and Its Association with Depression, Anxiety, and Personal Burnout Among Autistic and Non-Autistic Women in Poland

This study aimed to examine the differences between autistic and non-autistic women from Poland in terms of social camouflage, as well as levels of de-pression, generalized anxiety, and personal burnout. Additionally, it explored whether engagement in social camouflage strategies predicted higher levels of selected internalizing disorders and burnout in both groups. A total of 144 women participated in the study (70 autistic, 74 non-autistic). Participants com-pleted self-report questionnaires, including the AQ-28 (autistic traits), CAT-Q (camouflage), PHQ-9 (depression), GAD-7 (generalized anxiety), and BAT-PL (burnout). Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, Pearson’s correlations, and hierarchical regression analyses to examine the influence of autistic traits and camouflage on mental health outcomes. Autistic women exhibited signifi-cantly higher levels of depression, generalized anxiety, and personal burnout compared to non-autistic women. In the autistic group, social camouflage was positively correlated with depression, generalized anxiety, and burnout, whereas in the non-autistic group, it was associated only with depression and burnout. After controlling for age and autistic traits, social camouflage remained a signifi-cant predictor of higher levels of depression, generalized anxiety, and burnout in autistic women. In contrast, in non-autistic women, it was a predictor only of burnout. This study highlights the significant mental health challenges faced by autistic women, emphasizing the role of social camouflage in predicting inter-nalizing disorders and burnout. The findings underscore the need to consider camouflage in clinical assessments and diagnostic processes, particularly for autistic individuals, to ensure timely and accurate interventions.