Internalized Symptoms in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Typically Developing Adolescents : Gaining Insight Into Coping Strategies and the Psychological Processes Involved

Introduction: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have more mental health problems than typically developping adolescents (without ASD). Coping strategies are a key concern for adolescents with ASD in managing depressive and anxiety symptoms. Currently, few studies have examined the coping strategies used by adolescents with ASD. The methodological considerations underscore the need for an assessment method tailored to adolescents with ASD. Finally, although current data are still limited, the results suggest that there may be differences between the coping strategies used by adolescents with ASD and typically developing adolescents, thus calling for more in-depth comparative research.

Objectives: This study aims to validate a coping strategies assessment method adapted for adolescents with ASD (1) and to examine coping strategies associated with internalizing symptoms (2)

Population: 252 participants: 84 adolescents with ASD (1), 84 adolescents with autistic traits but no clinical diagnosis of ASD (2), and 84 typically developing adolescents (3). The age range is 12-17 years.

Study design: The study is divided into two parts: a cross-sectional part (T) and a longitudinal part (L).

• The cross-sectional part will include three meetings spread over a period of approximately three months (approximately one meeting per month).
• The longitudinal part will consist of a meeting scheduled one year after the last meeting of the cross-sectional part.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Questionnaire and interview

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 252

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Héloïse HL Louvegny, PhD Student; Phone Number: 0471 55 84 10 010 47 80 60; Email: heloise.louvegny@uclouvain.be
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Stéphanie SM Mazzone, Postdoctoral; Phone Number: 02 764 20 34; Email: stephanie.mazzone@saintluc.uclouvain.be

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adolescents aged between 12 and 17 with or without ASD

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 12-17 years
• speak french fluently

Exclusion Criteria:

• Intellectual disability

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Adolescents with autistic traits without a clinical diagnosis of ASD; Adolescents with autistic traits without a clinical diagnosis of ASD: T score between 66-75 on the SRS-2	Behavioral: Questionnaire and interview; Participants will complete questionnaires and take part in a semi-structured interview
Adolescents diagnosed with ASD; ASD diagnosis made by a specialist physician	Behavioral: Questionnaire and interview; Participants will complete questionnaires and take part in a semi-structured interview
Adolescents; Typically developing adolescents (without ASD)	Behavioral: Questionnaire and interview; Participants will complete questionnaires and take part in a semi-structured interview

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Coping strategies	Measure by questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Questionnaire : Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI) The questionnaire is designed to identify coping strategy profiles. It includes 8 sub-strategies (Problem solving, Cognitive restructuring, Express Emotions, Social Support, Problem avoidance, Wishful thinking, Self-Criticism, Social Withdrawal) and does not have strict minimum or maximum scores. Instead, it provides an overview of the relative use of each coping strategy	Throughout the entire study, approximately during 5 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Anxious, depressive and somatic symptoms	Measure by questionnaire Questionnaire : Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) T-score < 65 → Non-clinical range. Symptoms are minimal or within the typical range compared to the normative population. No clinical concern is indicated T-score ≥ 65 → Borderline/clinically elevated Symptoms are higher than average and may indicate potential anxiety or depression issues. T-score ≥ 70 → Clinically significant range Symptoms are substantially elevated compared to peers. There is a high likelihood of clinically meaningful anxiety or depression	Throughout the entire study, approximately during 5 years

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Perfectionnism	Measure by questionnaire	Throughout the entire study, approximately during 5 years
Self-perception	Measure by questionnaire	Throughout the entire study, approximately during 5 years
Perceived social support	Measure by questionnaire	Throughout the entire study, approximately during 5 years
Alexithymia	Measure by questionnaire	Throughout the entire study, approximately during 5 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Université Catholique de Louvain
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nathalie NNG Nader-Grosbois, Professor, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Rieffe C, Oosterveld P, Terwogt MM, Mootz S, van Leeuwen E, Stockmann L. Emotion regulation and internalizing symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism. 2011 Nov;15(6):655-70. doi: 10.1177/1362361310366571. Epub 2011 Jul 6.
• Rieffe C, De Bruine M, De Rooij M, Stockmann L. Approach and avoidant emotion regulation prevent depressive symptoms in children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2014 Dec;39:37-43. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2014.06.003. Epub 2014 Jun 19.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): February 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2031
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2031

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 14, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 14, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): January 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 29, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 27, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: ASD coping
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Methods; Data Collection; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Public Health; Environment and Public Health; Interviews as Topic; Surveys and Questionnaires
• Other Study ID Numbers: TSA coping

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No