Relationships between autistic traits, self-efficacy, and internalizing symptoms in a nonclinical sample of Indian early adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: Having more “autistic traits” is associated with an increased risk of mental health conditions. However, few studies have examined autistic traits in nonclinical samples. This study aims to analyze the relationship between autistic traits and internalizing symptoms among early adolescents and to examine the moderating effect of self-efficacy. Methods: Survey data were collected from early adolescents ages 10–14 living in Darjeeling, India (n = 274) to assess autistic traits, self-efficacy, and internalizing symptoms. Results: Higher internalizing symptoms were significantly associated with a higher report of autistic traits. Academic, social, and emotional dimensions of self-efficacy moderated the relationship between autistic traits and internalizing symptoms. Conclusion: The moderation effects between social and emotional self-efficacy among youth with high versus low autism trait scores suggest the need for social-emotional learning interventions designed for and with neurodivergent youth. Such interventions aim to reduce internalizing symptoms during early adolescence and improve future mental health trajectories.