Au-dela des rassurances habituelles de « Tout va bien » — La realite de l’anxiete dans l’autisme

Titre original en anglais : Beyond Common Reassurances of “It’s OK”—The Reality of Anxiety in Autism

Srinivasan, H. B. (2026). Beyond Common Reassurances of “It’s OK”—The Reality of Anxiety in Autism. Autism in Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1177/25739581251366856

Date de publication: 02/02/2026 Ajout dans AutiHub: 09/07/2026 Type: Article Langue de l’article: Anglais

Cette publication est intégrée dans AutiHub via :

Auteurs

Auteur·ices des publications
1
Auteur·ices de la publication identifié·es comme autistes
1 / 1 (100,0 %)

Résumé

L’anxiete dans l’autisme est souvent mal comprise lorsqu’elle est comparee aux experiences neurotypiques. Il ne suffit pas de dire : « Tout va bien, tout le monde ressent de l’anxiete. » L’anxiete dans l’autisme n’est pas simplement une experience transitoire, mais souvent une difficulte persistante et omnipresente, faconnee a la fois par des differences neurobiologiques et par des structures societales. Alors que l’anxiete transitoire (d’etat) est frequente dans la population generale, de nombreuses personnes autistes peuvent connaitre une anxiete chronique (de trait), profondement liee aux sensibilites sensorielles, aux difficultes sociales et au poids cumulatif des traumatismes passes. Cet article examine la nature complexe de l’anxiete dans l’autisme, en soulignant comment les barrieres systemiques, la stigmatisation et les mecanismes d’adaptation appris contribuent a une detresse durable. Il explore comment les pressions societales et les reponses interiorisees creent des cycles d’anxiete auto-renforcants, soutenus par des mecanismes psychologiques et neurobiologiques. L’article propose des suggestions a plusieurs niveaux — couvrant les niveaux societal, communautaire, professionnel, de la recherche et individuel — en soulignant la necessite d’approches inclusives et flexibles qui tiennent compte de la diversite de l’experience autiste. En s’attaquant aux barrieres externes et aux difficultes internes, ces suggestions visent a promouvoir le bien-etre et a reduire le fardeau de l’anxiete dans l’ensemble du spectre de l’autisme.

Anxiety in autism is often misunderstood when compared with neurotypical experiences. It is not as simple as saying, “It’s okay, everyone gets anxious.” Anxiety in autism is not merely a transient experience but often a persistent and pervasive challenge shaped by both neurobiological differences and societal structures. While transient (state) anxiety is common in the general population, many autistic individuals can experience chronic (trait) anxiety, deeply intertwined with sensory sensitivities, social challenges, and the cumulative weight of past traumas. This article examines the complex nature of anxiety in autism, emphasizing how systemic barriers, stigma, and learned coping mechanisms contribute to sustained distress. It explores how societal pressures and internalized responses create self-reinforcing anxiety cycles, supported by psychological and neurobiological mechanisms. The article offers multilevel suggestions—spanning societal, community, professional, research, and individual levels—highlighting the need for inclusive, flexible approaches that account for the diversity of the autistic experience. Addressing both external barriers and internal challenges, these suggestions aim to promote well-being and reduce the burden of anxiety across the autism spectrum.

Bibliographie citée par cette référence

Les références citées sont importées depuis des sources externes de métadonnées lorsqu’elles sont disponibles. La liste peut être partielle.

Vue d’ensemble de l’inclusion dans la bibliographie

Ces indicateurs décrivent la bibliographie citée importée pour cette publication. Les métriques de références citées utilisent le total des références citées comme dénominateur. Les métriques d’auteurices cité·es indiquent si elles utilisent toutes les occurrences d’auteurices cité·es ou seulement les occurrences rattachées à des auteurices déjà intégré·es à la base de données AutiHub. Ils utilisent les rattachements mis en cache entre les auteurices cité·es et les auteurices intégré·es à la base de données AutiHub. Dernier calcul : 16/08/2026 11:31.

Références citées
55
Nombre total de références citées intégrées pour cette publication.
Références citées avec un·e auteur·ice identifié·e comme autiste
6 / 55 (10,9 %)
Occurrences d’auteur·ices cité·es identifié·es comme autistes
12 / 219 (5,5 %)
Parmi les occurrences rattachées à des auteurices intégré·es à la base de données AutiHub : 12 / 99 (12,1 %). Auteurices cité·es distinct·es identifié·es comme autistes : 9 / 201 (4,5 %).
Occurrences citées rattachées à la base AutiHub
99 / 219 (45,2 %)
Auteurices cité·es distinct·es rattaché·es : 81 / 201 (40,3 %)
Occurrences rattachées, non identifiées comme autistes
87 / 99 (87,9 %)
Parmi les seules occurrences rattachées. Sur l’ensemble des occurrences d’auteurices cité·es : 87 / 219 (39,7 %). Auteurices cité·es distinct·es rattaché·es, non identifié·es comme autistes : 72 / 81 (88,9 %).
  1. Blythe A. Corbett , Sally Mendoza , Jacob A. Wegelin , Vanessa Carmean , Seymour Levine (2008). Variable cortisol circadian rhythms in children with autism and anticipatory stress . Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 33(3), 227-234. Canadian Science Publishing.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1139/jpn.0823 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1621468035
    Crossref OpenAlex
  2. Margaux M. Kenwood , Ned H. Kalin , Helen Barbas (2022). The prefrontal cortex, pathological anxiety, and anxiety disorders . Neuropsychopharmacology, 47(1), 260-275. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  3. Bruce S. McEwen , Peter J. Gianaros (2010). Central role of the brain in stress and adaptation: Links to socioeconomic status, health, and disease . Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1186(1), 190-222. Wiley.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  4. Francesca Saviola , Edoardo Pappaianni , Alessia Monti , Alessandro Grecucci , Jorge Jovicich , Nicola De Pisapia (2020). Trait and state anxiety are mapped differently in the human brain . Scientific Reports, 10(1), 11112-11112. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  5. Katherine Gotham , Alison R Marvin , Julie Lounds Taylor , Zachary Warren , Connie M Anderson , Paul A Law et al. (2015). Characterizing the daily life, needs, and priorities of adults with autism spectrum disorder from Interactive Autism Network data . Autism, 19(7), 794-804. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  6. Connor M. Kerns , Craig J. Newschaffer , Steven Berkowitz , Brian K. Lee (2017). Brief Report: Examining the Association of Autism and Adverse Childhood Experiences in the National Survey of Children’s Health: The Important Role of Income and Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(7), 2275-2281. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  7. Christophe Maïano , Claude L. Normand , Marie‐Claude Salvas , Grégory Moullec , Annie Aimé (2016). Prevalence of School Bullying Among Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis . Autism Research, 9(6), 601-615. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/aur.1568 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1942667353
    Crossref OpenAlex
  8. Carla A. Mazefsky , John Herrington , Matthew Siegel , Angela Scarpa , Brenna B. Maddox , Lawrence Scahill et al. (2013). The Role of Emotion Regulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder . Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(7), 679-688. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  9. Susanna Baldwin , Debra Costley , Anthony Warren (2014). Employment Activities and Experiences of Adults with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Disorder . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(10), 2440-2449. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  10. Connor M. Kerns , Breanna Winder-Patel , Ana Maria Iosif , Christine Wu Nordahl , Brianna Heath , Marjorie Solomon et al. (2021). Clinically Significant Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Varied Intellectual Functioning . Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 50(6), 780-795. Informa UK Limited.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  11. Teal Benevides , Shelly J. Lane (2015). A Review of Cardiac Autonomic Measures: Considerations for Examination of Physiological Response in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(2), 560-575. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  12. Meng-Chuan Lai , Caroline Kassee , Richard Besney , Sarah Bonato , Laura Hull , Will Mandy et al. (2019). Prevalence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses in the autism population: a systematic review and meta-analysis . The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(10), 819-829. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  13. Derald Wing Sue , Christina M. Capodilupo , Gina C. Torino , Jennifer M. Bucceri , Aisha M. B. Holder , Kevin L. Nadal et al. (2007). Racial microaggressions in everyday life: Implications for clinical practice. American Psychologist, 62(4), 271-286. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Crossref OpenAlex
  14. Dacher Keltner , Jonathan Haidt (2003). Approaching awe, a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion . Cognition and Emotion, 17(2), 297-314. Informa UK Limited.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  15. Johnna R. Swartz , Jillian Lee Wiggins , Melisa Carrasco , Catherine Lord , Christopher S. Monk (2013). Amygdala Habituation and Prefrontal Functional Connectivity in Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders . Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(1), 84-93. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  16. M. Catherine Cappadocia , Jonathan A. Weiss , Debra Pepler (2012). Bullying Experiences Among Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(2), 266-277. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  17. Julie Lounds Taylor , Blythe A. Corbett (2014). A review of rhythm and responsiveness of cortisol in individuals with autism spectrum disorders . Psychoneuroendocrinology, 49, 207-228. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  18. Neil Humphrey , Judith Hebron (2015). Bullying of children and adolescents with autism spectrum conditions: a ‘state of the field’ review . International Journal of Inclusive Education, 19(8), 845-862. Informa UK Limited.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  19. Fiona A. Kumari Campbell (2008). Exploring internalized ableism using critical race theory . Disability & Society, 23(2), 151-162. Informa UK Limited.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  20. Dawn Hendricks (2010). Employment and adults with autism spectrum disorders: Challenges and strategies for success . Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 32(2), 125-134. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  21. Kimberly B. Schauder , Lisa E. Mash , Lauren K. Bryant , Carissa J. Cascio (2015). Interoceptive ability and body awareness in autism spectrum disorder . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 131, 193-200. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  22. Darren Hedley , Mirko Uljarević , Mathilda Wilmot , Amanda L. Richdale , Cheryl Dissanayake (2018). Understanding depression and thoughts of self-harm in autism: A potential mechanism involving loneliness . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 46, 1-7. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  23. Debbie Spain , Jacqueline Sin , Kai B. Linder , Johanna McMahon , Francesca Happé (2018). Social anxiety in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 52, 51-68. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  24. Shulamite A. Green , Ayelet Ben-Sasson (2010). Anxiety Disorders and Sensory Over-Responsivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Is There a Causal Relationship? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(12), 1495-1504. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  25. Teresa Tavassoli , Lucy J Miller , Sarah A Schoen , Darci M Nielsen , Simon Baron-Cohen (2014). Sensory over-responsivity in adults with autism spectrum conditions . Autism, 18(4), 428-432. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  26. Sarah N. Garfinkel , Claire Tiley , Stephanie O'Keeffe , Neil A. Harrison , Anil K. Seth , Hugo Critchley (2016). Discrepancies between dimensions of interoception in autism: Implications for emotion and anxiety . Biological Psychology, 114, 117-126. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  27. Paul K. Piff , Pia Dietze , Matthew Feinberg , Daniel M. Stancato , Dacher Keltner (2015). Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(6), 883-899. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Crossref OpenAlex
  28. Anna Durbin , Frank Sirotich , Yona Lunsky , Janet Durbin (2017). Unmet Needs of Adults in Community Mental Health Care With and Without Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Cross-Sectional Study . Community Mental Health Journal, 53(1), 15-26. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  29. Hinshaw S (2006). The Mark of Shame: Stigma of Mental Illness and an Agenda for Change . The Mark of Shame: Stigma of Mental Illness and an Agenda for Change.
    Type: Autre
    Crossref
  30. E. Tory Higgins , William S. Rholes , Carl R. Jones (1977). Category accessibility and impression formation . Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 13(2), 141-154. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  31. Stephen P. Hinshaw (2005). The stigmatization of mental illness in children and parents: developmental issues, family concerns, and research needs . Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46(7), 714-734. Wiley.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  32. Micah Mazurek (2014). Loneliness, friendship, and well-being in adults with autism spectrum disorders . Autism, 18(3), 223-232. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  33. Robert Rosenthal , Lenore Jacobson (1968). Pygmalion in the classroom . Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref
  34. Ginny Russell , Will Mandy , Daisy Elliott , Rhianna White , Tom Pittwood , Tamsin Ford (2019). Selection bias on intellectual ability in autism research: a cross-sectional review and meta-analysis . Molecular Autism, 10(1), 9. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  35. Crenshaw K (1997). Feminist Legal Theories . Feminist Legal Theories.
    Type: Autre
    Crossref
  36. Laura Hull , K. V. Petrides , Carrie Allison , Paula Smith , Simon Baron-Cohen , Meng-Chuan Lai et al. (2017). “Putting on My Best Normal”: Social Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(8), 2519-2534. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  37. Eilidh Cage , Jessica Di Monaco , Victoria Newell (2018). Experiences of Autism Acceptance and Mental Health in Autistic Adults . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(2), 473-484. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  38. Adrienne Colella (2001). Coworker Distributive Fairness Judgments of the Workplace Accommodation of Employees with Disabilities . The Academy of Management Review, 26(1), 100. Academy of Management.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.2307/259397 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4246832287
    Crossref OpenAlex
  39. Jon Painter , Richard P. Hastings , Barry Ingham , Liam Trevithick , Ashok Roy (2018). Associations Between Mental Health Problems and Challenging Behavior in Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Test of the Behavioral Equivalents Hypothesis . Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 11(2), 157-172. Informa UK Limited.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  40. Andrew T. Halim , Amanda L. Richdale , Mirko Uljarević (2018). Exploring the nature of anxiety in young adults on the autism spectrum: A qualitative study . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 55, 25-37. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  41. Tamara E. Rosen , Carla A. Mazefsky , Roma A. Vasa , Matthew D Lerner (2018). Co-occurring psychiatric conditions in autism spectrum disorder . International Review of Psychiatry, 30(1), 40-61. Informa UK Limited.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  42. Claude M. Steele , Joshua Aronson (1995). Stereotype threat and the intellectual test performance of African Americans. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(5), 797-811. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Crossref OpenAlex
  43. Dena M. Bravata , Sharon A. Watts , Autumn L. Keefer , Divya K. Madhusudhan , Katie T. Taylor , Dani M. Clark et al. (2020). Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: a Systematic Review . Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(4), 1252-1275. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  44. Vicki Gibbs , Elizabeth Pellicano (2023). ‘Maybe we just seem like easy targets’: A qualitative analysis of autistic adults’ experiences of interpersonal violence . Autism, 27(7), 2021-2034. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  45. Amanda Brignell , Karen V Chenausky , Huan Song , Jianwei Zhu , Chen Suo , Angela T Morgan (2018). Communication interventions for autism spectrum disorder in minimally verbal children . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018(11), CD012324-CD012324. Wiley.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  46. Gemma Hartley , Fuschia Sirois , Jack Purrington , Yasmin Rabey (2024). Adverse Childhood Experiences and Autism: A Meta-Analysis . Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(3), 2297-2315. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  47. Heumann J (2020). Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist . Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist.
    Type: Autre
    Crossref
  48. (s. d.). Srinivasan H. The Pervasive Loneliness of Autism. TIME; January 3 2024. https://time.com/6551520/loneliness-autism-essay/ [Last accessed: November21 2024].
    Type: Autre
    Crossref