Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorder; ASD; Identity; Identity development; Social camouflaging; Gender conformity
Abstract
Research on autistic features and identity development has indicated that autistic traits are positively associated with identity disturbance (Ratner & Berman, 2015). Characteristic attributes of autism, including circumscribed interests and impairments in social relatedness, align with self-rumination and hardships engaging in the components of identity formation (Gotham et al., 2014). Nonetheless, research on this topic remains scarce. The present study analyzed the association between autistic features and identity formation processes while considering sociocultural factors, such as gender conformity and social camouflaging. A sample of college students enrolled in a large metropolitan city (N = 427) was recruited to complete an online survey. The results suggest that autistic features are positively associated with both ruminative identity exploration and identity distress. Mediation analyses revealed that social camouflaging mediates this relationship, and that gender conformity further moderates the effect, influencing how strongly camouflaging links autistic traits to identity outcomes. These findings signify the relevant role of social camouflaging in the relationship between autistic features and identity disturbances, highlighting the need for interventions and assessments that consider its prevalence and manifestation.
Thesis Completion Year
2025
Thesis Completion Semester
Fall
Thesis Chair
Berman, Steven
College
College of Sciences
Department
Psychology
Thesis Discipline
Psychology
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Santana, Alejandra, "The Relationship Between Autistic Features and Identity Development Processes Among College Students Through an Intersectional Lens" (2025). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 455.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/455
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