Relationship Between Autistic Traits, Social Problem-Solving Deficiencies, and Depressive - Anxiety Symptoms: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Objectives The current study investigated the structural relationship between autistic traits, the components of social problem-solving deficiencies and depressive-anxiety symptoms.
Methods The study was conducted in 2015-2016 consisting of 336 students (male and female) with their age ranging from 18 to 35 years old. They were selected by using the convenience sampling method, and were assessed on Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), social problem-solving (SPSI-SF), and depression and anxiety symptoms (BAI and BDI-II). For data analysis, Pearson conduct coefficient, structural equation modeling, and boot stooping methods were conducted.
Results The results of the analysis revealed that the deficit in social problem-solving component has an intermediary role in assessing the relationship between the severity of autistic traits, and depression-anxiety symptoms. All other hypothetical fitness indices model were in the appropriate range of positive cross-correlation (0.45≥r≥0.25) between autistic traits, problem-solving deficiencies component, and depression- anxiety, All relations were found to be statistically significant (PConclusion The findings from the current study provide further support to the structural relationship between the components of the problem-solving deficiencies, severity of depressive - anxiety symptoms, and autistic traits. The understanding of how they are related to depressive - anxiety symptoms will hopefully help in informing about the future attempts for adopting an effective problem-solving programs for individuals with autistic traits.