Emotion Reactivity and Regulation in Autistic Adults: A Systematic Review Across RDoC Units of Analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Autism Research

Background:

• Emotion reactivity and regulation are crucial in anxiety and depression among autistic adults.
• Current measurement relies heavily on subjective reports, limiting objective understanding.
• Biological measurement offers a complementary perspective beyond self/caregiver-reports.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review measurement practices for emotion reactivity and regulation in autistic adults.
• To summarize findings on the autistic adult experience across Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) units of analysis.
• To identify gaps in current research methodologies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Inclusion of 31 original peer-reviewed studies (41 reports).
• Categorization of reports across circuitry, physiological, behavioral, and self-/caregiver-report measures.

Main Results:

• Findings suggest generally reduced emotion reactivity and regulation in autistic adults compared to non-autistic groups.
• Inconsistencies noted due to varying emotional paradigms, settings, and measurement tools.
• Heterogeneity in study designs limits definitive conclusions.

Conclusions:

• A significant lack of objective (circuitry, physiological, behavioral) measures for emotion reactivity and regulation in autistic adults exists.
• Current evidence is insufficient to fully understand these internal experiences and processes in autistic individuals.
• Future research should standardize methods, include diverse populations, and assess both positive and negative emotions.