As people with autism grow up, they face unique challenges. They find it difficult to deal with mental health issues. There is a big gap in understanding how pretending to fit in (known as social camouflage), cultural beliefs, and mental well-being are connected. This is especially true for non-Western countries like Japan. In societies that stress conformity, autistic individuals may feel more pressure to act non-autistic. This, in turn, affects their mental health. Not enough studies in Japan have investigated this concern, which leaves a crucial gap in our knowledge. It is vital to recognize these cultural differences to create better support and help for the mental health of autistic individuals all around the world.
Recognizing this issue, in a new study published in the journal Molecular Autism on January 4, 2024, Professor Fumiyo Oshima from the Research Center for Child Mental Development at Chiba University, Japan, along with last author Eiji Shimizu from the Graduate School of Medicine at Chiba University and co-authors Toru Takahashi (Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa/Japan Society for the Promotion of Science), Laura Hull (Centre for Academic Mental Health, Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol), William Mandy (Research Department for Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, University College London), and Kenji Tsuchiya (Research Center for Child Mental Development, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine), aimed to replicate and re-analyze a study conducted in the UK.
In a recent study examining the impact of social camouflage on the mental health of autistic individuals in Japan and the UK, researchers have delved into the nuanced relationship between social behaviors and psychological well-being. The investigation focused on how autistic individuals adapt their social behaviors to fit societal expectations, a phenomenon known as social camouflage.
The findings underscore the potential mental health challenges associated with social camouflage among autistic people. The study highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the psychological toll that conforming to social norms may impose on individuals with autism.
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Study Explores Link between Social Camouflage and Mental Health among Autistic People in Japan and the UK https://t.co/wOOj2VXH0z #rehabnearme
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