We feel more anxious when faced with uncertain or unpredictable situations, and this anxiety tends to be stronger in people who score higher on autistic traits. Published in scientific reportnew research suggests that anxiety caused by uncertainty plays a role in how people manage their emotions. Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan have found evidence that people with highly autistic traits may try to cope with uncertainty by labeling their emotions. Providing support, such as putting the right words to their feelings, can help manage anxiety.
Naming your emotions may reduce mental stress
Previous research suggests that labeling your emotions, whether you write them down or say them out loud, can help you calm down. It won’t make your anxiety go away, but having a name for your feelings will make it less overwhelming.
Autistic traits refer to characteristics associated with autism spectrum disorders, such as differences in social communication and a preference for routine and predictability. These characteristics vary in degree in the general population.
A total of 505 Japanese adults between the ages of 20 and 39 completed an online survey that measured autistic traits, discomfort with uncertainty, tendency to verbalize emotions, and anxiety levels.
We measured autistic traits using a 50-item questionnaire called the Autism Spectrum Quotient. This questionnaire covers five areas: social skills, ability to shift attention, communication, imagination, and attention to detail. ”
First author, Akitaka Fujii, PhD student, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University
Researchers also found that people who scored high on autistic traits experienced greater anxiety in uncertain situations. This is known as intolerance of uncertainty, and is the tendency to react negatively when a situation feels ambiguous or out of one’s control.
“Our findings suggest that discomfort with uncertainty increases the tendency to verbalize feelings, which is associated with lower anxiety levels,” said co-author Masahiro Hirai, associate professor at the Graduate School of Informatics.
Providing the other person with the right words to describe how they are feeling can help you cope with their anxiety. For example, when someone is having a hard time expressing their pain, a teacher or family member might say, “Maybe you’re feeling anxious about this.” This perspective may inform future approaches in classrooms and counseling settings.
Limitations and next steps
The researchers caution that these are early findings and further research is needed to confirm the theory. This study did not involve people with a clinical diagnosis of autism, so the findings cannot be directly applied to people with autism.
The Hirai lab is currently conducting a follow-up study of adults with a clinical diagnosis of autism to see if a similar pattern is observed. The authors highlight the need for further research that follows participants over time to determine whether these patterns reflect cause and effect.
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Reference magazines:
Fujii, A. and Hirai, T. (2026) Autism-related traits and anxiety in the general population are linked through intolerance of uncertainty and influence labeling. scientific report. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-47237-8. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-47237-8
