Julie M. Hall

Research on autistic features and identity development has indicated that autistic traits are positively associated with disturbances in identity development. Characteristic attributes of autism, such as circumscribed interests and differences in social relatedness, align with self-rumination and challenges in navigating the components of identity formation. Nonetheless, research on this topic remains scarce. The present study examined the association between autistic features and identity formation processes in a non-clinical population while accounting for sociocultural factors, specifically social camouflaging and gender conformity. The sample consisted of college students enrolled in a large metropolitan city (N = 427) who completed an anonymous online survey battery. Autistic features were positively associated with both ruminative identity exploration and identity distress. Social camouflaging mediated these relationships, suggesting that the concealment of autistic traits may contribute to maladaptive identity formation rather than autistic traits themselves. Gender conformity further moderated the effect, with higher levels of conformity to traditional gender roles weakening the relationship between autistic features and social camouflaging. These findings signify the relevant role of social camouflaging in the relationship between autistic features and identity disturbances, highlighting the need for interventions and assessments that consider its prevalence and manifestation.

Political identity permeates people’s everyday experiences and begins to develop early in adolescence. Understanding which variables may influence this development, and in what direction, can provide valuable insight into underlying differences between political groups in the face of increasing polarization. To that end, this study aimed to investigate the political differences between those with each of the identity styles and elucidate the differential roles of parental and news media influences on attitudes concerning welfare and traditional gender roles in those with each identity style. University students (N = 395) answered questions about their identity style as well as their own and their parents’ political identities and media consumption. Those with a normative style were found to hold more conservative political attitudes than those with an informational style, and parental and media influence were predictive of one’s own political identity only among those with the normative style. Political attitudes of those with the diffuse-avoidant style differed from the normative but not informational style, and their political identity was only predicted by media influence. These differences demonstrate the usefulness of considering identity and developmental factors when researching intergroup political phenomena.

The previous literature has explored the various relationships among Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), identity distress, imposter phenomenon (IP), self-esteem, masking, and social media, but to our knowledge no studies have looked at all the variables together within in a single model. This study aimed to test the fit of a structural equation model (SEM) exploring the direct relationships between ADHD symptom severity, IP, identity distress and the mediating indirect effects of self-esteem, social camouflaging, and social media connections. Specifically, we tested if self-esteem, masking, and social media connections mediate the pathways between ADHD and IP and ADHD and identity distress. College students (N = 500, women 61.6%, men 34%) completed an anonymous online survey battery. Those whose self-report symptom scores suggested that they might meet the DSM-5-TR criteria for ADHD had higher levels of IP, integration of social media use for communication, and identity distress and lower levels of self-esteem compared to students whose scores suggested that they probably would not meet the criteria for ADHD. A significant path was found from ADHD symptom severity to IP and to identity distress mediated through self-esteem, masking, and social media connections (emotional connection to social media and integration into life). This study is among the first to explore these relationships, in hopes of further informing clinicians’ planning prevention and intervention strategies for those who are struggling with ADHD and identity issues. Further results and their implications are discussed.

Multiple researchers have called for greater investigation into the Florida HB 1557 bill and its corresponding legislation, as well as its impact, particularly in Florida Recent limitations in research on this topic include not having a developed, validated measure that captures the perception of targeted legislation toward sexual gender minority (SGM) groups and the perceived impacts of the legislation. The present study evaluates a measure of SGM legislation perception, Perception of Regulations, and Impacts on Diversity and Equality—Legislation (PRIDE-L) scale. Two cross-sectional designs were used to develop and assess the psychometric properties of the PRIDE-L. The three factors defined are the general perception of legislation, the perceived direct impact of legislation, and the perceived indirect impact of legislation, or the impact on other people that the participant knows and cares about. The PRIDE-L may offer a tool to aid in quantifying the underlying construct of negative cognitions about social stressors, which may aid in social advocacy.