Satisfaction with friendship support protects autistic youth from the negative effects of peer victimization

Autistic youth experience higher rates of peer victimization than their non-autistic peers. While there is some evidence that friendships may protect against the negative mental health effects of peer victimization in the general population, these protective effects have not been examined in autistic youth. The current study explored whether satisfaction with friendship support is associated with depressive symptoms among autistic youth, and whether satisfaction with friendship support buffers against the negative effects of peer victimization on mental health. Autistic youth (N = 224) between the ages of 15 and 25 years (M = 18.68 years) completed questionnaires measuring frequency of peer victimization, satisfaction with friendship support, and depressive symptoms. Satisfaction with friendship support was not associated with depressive symptoms; however, the effect of peer victimization on depressive symptoms was attenuated for youth who were more satisfied with their friendship support compared to youth who were less satisfied with their friendship support. The results of the current study therefore highlight the potential for promoting mental health of autistic youth through reducing peer victimization and increasing satisfaction with peer relationships.Lay Abstract Autistic youth are more likely to be bullied than youth who are not on the autism spectrum. Youth in the general population who are bullied experience poor mental health, but those who are satisfied with their friendships may be protected from these negative outcomes. No studies have looked at how friendships affect the mental health of autistic youth who are bullied by their peers. Autistic youth completed questionnaires that asked them to report how frequently they were bullied, whether they were satisfied with the support they received from friends, and depressive symptoms they experienced. Depressive symptoms did not differ between youth who were more satisfied and youth who were less satisfied with their friendship support. However, among youth who were frequently bullied, depressive symptoms were lower for those who were more satisfied with their friendship support compared to those who were less satisfied with their friendship support. This study shows that interventions are needed to support the mental health of autistic youth by decreasing bullying by peers and increasing positive peer relationships.