An examination of perceived stress and emotion regulation challenges as mediators of associations between camouflaging and internalizing symptomatology.

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This study shows that when autistic adults feel pressure to hide or “mask” their autistic traits—a common experience for many people with 16p11.2—it can increase daily stress and make emotions harder to manage, which in turn raises the risk for anxiety and depression, highlighting the importance of supportive environments where individuals can be themselves.