Juxtaposing social anxiety and introversion in children with ASD: A systematic review of the literature

Abstract

The DSM-5 classification of ASD symptoms overlaps with behaviours consistent with social anxiety and introversion. The indicated overlap has had various implications for the diagnosis of Social Anxiety. Children with ASD regularly experience social anxiety within various interactive scenarios. Subsequently, Introversion is an orientation towards one's inner experience. It involves considering all aspects related to oneself and a tendency toward introspective cognitive activity following socialisation. This study aims to juxtapose social anxiety and introversion by employing emergence, diagnostic differentiation, environmental effects, and psychosocial factors, despite the severity level of the condition. This review of literature utilised twenty-five identified articles from 2014 to 2024, with six on introversion, another six on social anxiety, six on environmental effects, two on treatments, and four on the psychosocial elements of both. The findings indicate that the current factorial structure of introversion shows how autistic traits interact to form the personality dimension. At the same time, social anxiety is a set of cognitive, behavioural, and physiological symptoms experienced by autistic children when interacting with other people. These symptoms are associated with their challenges in social communication and interaction. This literature survey will assist practitioners and researchers in understanding and analysing overlapping issues while offering solutions to mitigate problems. It is recommended in this study that social disengagement in ASD should not always be pathologized as there are actually caused by different internal processes and calls for different strategies. Making a precise distinction between the two promotes better respect for individual heterogeneity within the autism spectrum, increases the appropriateness of therapies, and improves diagnostic clarity.