Stress experienced by autistic people is often not caused by autism itself. Instead, negative social experiences such as rejection, misunderstanding, stigma and loneliness play a major role. This is the key finding of the research conducted by Alvin van Asselt, an autism researcher with lived experience. He suggests that reducing stress requires not only individual support, but also a more inclusive social environment.
Understanding stress through a social lens
While moderate levels of stress can be adaptive, chronic stress can have serious consequences for health and well-being. Autistic people frequently experience elevated stress levels and mental health challenges. Traditionally, these difficulties have often been explained by characteristics associated with autism itself. Van Asselt's research paints a different picture. The findings show that social factors are crucial in understanding why many autistic people experience persistent stress.
“To understand stress in autistic people, we need to look beyond the individual,” says Van Asselt. “Experiences of rejection, exclusion and a lack of understanding can have a major impact on daily life.”
Five studies on stress and social pain
Van Asselt combined multiple research methods to gain a deeper understanding of stress among autistic people. He conducted large-scale questionnaire studies with autistic adults in collaboration with the Dutch Autism Register (NAR). He also carried out interviews to explore how autistic people themselves experience stress and social challenges.
In addition, he evaluated the impact of Stress Autism Mate, a free app designed in co-creation with autistic people that helps users recognise and manage stress more effectively.
The research consists of five studies aimed at improving our understanding of stress and social pain in autism. Social pain refers to the stress response that follows experiences such as rejection, exclusion or loss. Despite its potential importance, this topic has received relatively little attention in autism research.
Why existing support often falls short
These insights are also relevant to support services. Many autistic people report dissatisfaction with the mental health support they receive. Services do not always match their needs and may sometimes even create additional stress. According to Van Asselt, this is partly because existing interventions tend to focus on changing the individual, while paying less attention to environmental factors. His findings help explain why many current approaches are not as effective as hoped.
Reducing stress more effectively may require greater attention to experiences of loneliness, rejection and social exclusion, as well as efforts to reduce stigma and improve understanding of autism.
Creating more inclusive environments
The findings highlight the need for a broader approach to the mental health of autistic people. Effective support is not only about helping individuals cope with stress, but also about creating environments in which people feel understood, accepted and included. In essence, reducing stress in autistic people requires attention not only to the individual, but also to the social world around them.rting therapists and society in effectively addressing suicidality in individuals with autism.”