Association of Cognitive and Adaptive Skills with Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Autistic Children and Adolescents

This study of 2,759 autistic children and adolescents examined how cognitive and adaptive skills relate to mental health and behavioral problems across varying levels of intellectual ability. Results showed adaptive skills (communication, daily living, socialization) were protective against both internalizing and externalizing problems, with differential associations depending on whether intellectual disability was present.