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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Nov;51(11):3887-3907.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-020-04810-y. Epub 2020 Dec 30.

IQ and Internalising Symptoms in Adolescents with ASD

Monisha Edirisooriya  1   2 , Dominika Dykiert  3   4 , Bonnie Auyeung  5   6
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

IQ and Internalising Symptoms in Adolescents with ASD

Monisha Edirisooriya et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Intelligence quotient (IQ), has been found to relate to the presence of internalising symptoms in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This meta-analysis sought to clarify the direction of the relationship between IQ and two prevalent internalising symptoms, anxiety and depression, in adolescents with ASD. Secondly, this study aimed to highlight methodological factors contributing to inconsistent findings in existing research. Self-reported anxiety was found to be significantly higher in youth with a lower IQ, while depression was positively associated with IQ. Consequently, parents, schools and clinicians should be cautious of underestimating anxiety in youth with a lower IQ. However, care should also be taken to ensure adolescents with ASD without intellectual disabilities are not overlooked with regards to social and emotional support.

Keywords: Adolescents; Anxiety; Autism spectrum disorder; Depression; Intelligence quotient; Internalising symptoms.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart showing the systematic literature search and study selection process
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plot showing a non-significant association between IQ and anxiety in adolescents with ASD, under a random effects model. The black circle for each study is proportional to the study’s weight in the anxiety analysis. The black diamond indicates the overall effect (r = − 015, p = .764)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest plot showing a positive association between IQ and depression in adolescents with ASD, under a fixed effects model. The black circle for each study is proportional to the study’s weight in the depression analysis. The black diamond indicates the overall effect (r = .119, p < .05)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Funnel plot for the anxiety publication bias analysis under a random effects model
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Funnel plot for the depression publication bias analysis under a fixed effects model
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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