Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan.
Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0392, Japan.
Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 28;13(1):14049. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-41164-8.
A recent cognitive model suggests that autistic individuals may experience dichotomous thinking patterns mediated by intolerance of uncertainty; however, empirical evidence to support this model is lacking. This study aimed to identify the relationships between autistic traits, intolerance of uncertainty, and dichotomous thinking using the Autism Spectrum Quotient, Short Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, and the Dichotomous Thinking Inventory. We collected data from non-clinical university students (N = 151; pilot study) and general adults (N = 500; main study) and analyzed the results using structural equation modeling. Both studies showed a significant indirect effect of autistic traits on dichotomous thinking mediated by intolerance of uncertainty. Moreover, the results indicated that intolerance of uncertainty was significantly and positively associated with Autism Spectrum Quotient and Dichotomous Thinking Inventory scores. Conversely, there was a significant negative direct association between Autism Spectrum Quotient and Dichotomous Thinking Inventory scores. This is the first study to demonstrate that autistic traits can result in dichotomous thinking through intolerance of uncertainty. These findings provide insight into the cognitive patterns of autistic individuals.
最近的认知模型表明，自闭症个体可能会经历由不确定性容忍度介导的二分思维模式；然而，支持该模型的经验证据是缺乏的。本研究旨在使用自闭症谱系商数、短暂性不确定性容忍量表和二分思维量表来确定自闭症特征、不确定性容忍度和二分思维之间的关系。我们从非临床大学生（N=151；预研究）和普通成年人（N=500；主要研究）中收集数据，并使用结构方程模型分析结果。两项研究均显示，自闭症特征通过不确定性容忍度对二分思维的显著间接影响。此外，结果表明，不确定性容忍度与自闭症谱系商数和二分思维量表得分呈显著正相关。相反，自闭症谱系商数与二分思维量表得分之间存在显著负向直接关联。这是第一项表明自闭症特征可通过不确定性容忍度导致二分思维的研究。这些发现为自闭症个体的认知模式提供了深入了解。
