Predicting anxiety within atypical development

This thesis focusses on the issue of predicting anxiety in atypical populations, namely in autism spectrum disorder and in rare genetic syndromes. The first chapter presents a systematic review of quantitative research conducted with the aim of identifying predictors of anxiety in people with autism spectrum disorder. Nineteen papers were included in the review. A wide range of predictors were identified and organised into eight salient themes including social skills, cognitive skills, emotional regulation and physiological responses. Predictors were identified as being both as direct and through mediation. A critique of the reviewed studies is given. The review raised questions about the methodology typically used to assess anxiety in autism research and areas for future research are suggested. Chapter two presents a quantitative research study looking at the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety in two rare genetic syndromes associated with autism spectrum disorder. Using questionnaire data, participants with Cornelia de Lange syndrome and Fragile X syndrome were compared on measures of anxiety, autism symptomatology and intolerance of uncertainty, and the relationships between these variables were examined. The findings of this study implicate intolerance of uncertainty in the presence of anxiety in both syndromes. In Cornelia de Lange syndrome, intolerance of uncertainty was found to mediate the relationship between autism symptoms and anxiety. Results are discussed in line with clinical and research implications. The final chapter is the author’s reflective account of conducting this research. The chapter reflects on the experience of conducting quantitative research as a trainee clinical psychologist and of managing the scientist-practitioner position whilst doing so. Reflections on the research process and the discovery of parallels with the author’s clinical work are also discussed