TABLE 1.
Summary of empirical literature implementing self‐report on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) in autistic adult samples
| Study | Participant groups, ns | Age, years mean (SD), range | Sex designated at birth | Aims/research questions | PSS version | Variables examined for relationships with PSS | Group differences | Relationships of other variables with perceived stress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hirvikoski and Blomqvist (2014) |
ASD = 25 NT = 28 |
ASD 34.08 (7.52) NT 32.64 (6.99) |
ASD Female: 10 Male: 15 NT Female: 16 Male: 12 |
Examine perceived stress in ASD & associations between autistic features and facets of perceived stress | 14‐item PSS | Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) |
Total PSS: ASD > NT PSS Distress subscale: ASD > NT PSS Coping subscale: ASD > NT |
‐ Higher AQ score associated with greater total PSS score in ASD and NT ‐ Higher AQ score correlated with PSS Distress and PSS Coping subscale scores in ASD and NT |
| Hong et al. (2016) | ASD = 60 |
ASD 32 (6.8) 25–55 |
ASD Female: 14 Male: 46 |
Probe factors associated with subjective QoL | 10‐item PSS | WHOQOL‐BREF | N/A |
Perceived stress: Female > Male ‐ Perceived stress predicted all domains of subjective QoL, with higher perceived stress associated with lower subjective QoL |
| Bishop‐Fitzpatrick, Minshew, et al. (2017) a |
ASD = 40 (ASD participants recruited from an active intervention study) NT = 25 |
ASD 24.20 (6.95) 18–44 NT 24.84 (3.69) 18–32 |
ASD Female: 4 Male: 36 NT Female: 4 Male: 21 |
Examine whether poor response to stress negatively impacts social functioning in ASD | 10‐item PSS |
W‐ADL Social Adjustment Scale‐II (SAS‐II) |
Perceived stress: ASD > NT |
‐ Greater perceived stress associated with greater social disability in ASD, as measured by the SAS‐II ‐ Perceived stress was not significantly associated with independence in activities of daily living, as assessed via the W‐ADL |
| Bishop‐Fitzpatrick, Smith DaWalt, et al. (2017) | ASD = 67 |
ASD 31.5 (6.7) 24–55 |
ASD Female: 21 Male: 46 |
‐ Investigate association of perceived stress with subjective QoL ‐ Probe whether social and recreational activities moderate association between perceived stress and subjective QoL |
10‐item PSS |
WHOQOL‐BREF Social and recreational activities |
N/A |
‐ Greater perceived stress associated with lower subjective QoL ‐ Recreational activities, but not social activities, moderated effects of perceived stress on subjective QoL |
| Bishop‐Fitzpatrick et al. (2018)a |
ASD = 40 (ASD participants recruited from an active intervention study) NT = 25 |
ASD 24.20 (6.95) 18–44 NT 24.84 (3.69) 18–32 |
ASD Female: 4 Male: 36 NT Female: 4 Male: 21 |
‐ Investigate impacts of perceived stress on subjective QoL ‐ Examine whether social support serves as a buffer in this association |
10‐item PSS |
WHOQOL‐BREF Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) |
Perceived stress: ASD > NT |
‐ Higher perceived stress associated with lower subjective QoL in ASD but not NT ‐ Social support did not moderate effect of perceived stress on subjective QoL for ASD or NT |
| Pahnke et al. (2019) | ASD = 10 |
ASD 49 (12), 25–65 |
ASD Female: 5 Male: 5 |
Pilot study to determine feasibility of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with ASD adults and to assess its effects on perceived stress | 14‐item PSS | Effect of intervention examined: comparison of PSS at baseline, post‐treatment and 3 months follow‐up | N/A |
‐ Significant reduction in perceived stress from baseline to post‐treatment ‐ No significant difference in perceived stress when comparing baseline to 3 months follow‐up |
| Wijker et al. (2020) |
ASD = 53 Intervention group = 27 Control condition = 26 |
ASD 18–60 |
ASD Female: 23 Male: 29 |
Randomized control trial exploring effects of animal assisted therapy (AAT) compared to waitlist condition on perceived stress and other variables in ASD adults | 10‐item PSS | AAT intervention or control condition | N/A | Those receiving AAT (but not those in control group) showed significant reduction in perceived stress from baseline to post‐intervention |
| McLean et al. (2021) |
ASD = 40 NT = 24 |
ASD 24.2 (6.95) NT 25 (3.68) |
ASD Female: 4 Male: 36 NT Female: 4 Male: 20 |
‐ Examine effects of perceived stress on subjective QoL in ASD ‐ Explore whether being autistic moderates associations between perceived stress and sleep quality with subjective QoL |
10‐item PSS |
WHOQOL‐BREF Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) |
Perceived stress: ASD > NT |
‐ Higher perceived stress was associated with lower subjective QoL ‐ No interaction between perceived stress and group (ASD, NT) on subjective QoL ‐ Compared to NT, ASD with high perceived stress and poor sleep quality reported worse subjective QoL |