Exploring the Associations Between Autistic Traits, Sleep Quality, and Well-Being in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study explores how autistic traits, sleep quality, and well-being are connected in university students.

Contribution

The study fills a gap by examining these associations in a university student population.

Findings

Autistic traits correlated with strengths and difficulties outcomes.

Well-being outcomes were more influenced by sleep and well-being predictors.

No interactions were found between predictor variables.

Abstract

Background: Very few studies have examined associations between autistic traits, sleep, and the well-being of university students, and the aim of the present study was to address this knowledge gap. Methods: Three hundred and eight university students carried out an online survey consisting of the Comprehensive Autistic Traits Inventory (CATI), the Short-Form Well-Being Process Questionnaire (SWBPQ), the Short-Form Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and the Short-Form Sleep Questionnaire. Results: Univariate analyses revealed significant correlations between the CATI subscales and the SDQ outcomes, but there were few associations between the CATI scales and the well-being outcomes, which were associated with the sleep scores and the well-being predictors. No interactions were found between the predictor variables. This profile was confirmed in the multivariate analyses, which also showed significant associations between the CATI scores and well-being predictors. Conclusions: CATI scores were associated with the outcomes of strengths and difficulties but showed few significant associations with the WPQ outcomes, which were predicted by sleep and well-being predictors. However, evidence of the indirect effects of the CATI scores on well-being came from the associations between the CATI scales and the well-being predictors.