title: Mediators of the link between autistic traits and relationship satisfaction in a non-clinical sample.
abstract: People with ASD have deficits in their social skills and may therefore experience lower relationship satisfaction. This study investigated possible mechanisms to explain whether and how autistic traits, measured with the AQ, influence relationship satisfaction in a non-clinical sample of 195 married couples. More autistic traits were associated with lower relationship satisfaction for husbands but not for wives. Multiple mediation analyses revealed that husbands' responsiveness towards their wives, trust, and intimacy mediated this link between autistic traits and relationship satisfaction. These findings suggest that autistic traits may hamper men's relationship satisfaction because they impede relationship-specific feelings and behavior. There was no partner-effect of autistic traits, indicating that more autistic traits do not necessarily influence the partner's perceptions of relationship satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.m.h.pollmann@uvt.nl
authors.forename: Monique M H
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pollmann
authors.forename: Catrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Finkenauer
authors.forename: Sander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Begeer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires