Abstract
Background:
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of video conferencing (VC) has become an integral part of everyday life. Its implementations range from staying in touch with loved-ones, to work-related meetings, remote learning, and e-health services. While VC appears a convenient alternative to meeting face-to-face for many, it may be challenging for others. VC is known to induce symptoms of mental and physical exhaustion. One potential factor that may contribute to these symptoms, collectively known as Zoom-fatigue, is that compared to face-to-face meetings, VC requires increased cognitive and sensory demands, which in turn may lead to sensory overload. The extent to which Zoom fatigue is experienced varies from person to person, but individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in particular may be more susceptible to Zoom fatigue. The socio-communicative symptoms associated with ASD include atypical eye gaze patterns, ineffective use of nonverbal cues, and alterations in sensory processing, including hyper- and hyposensitivity to sensory stimulation. All of these symptoms may pose as potential risk factors for zoom-fatigue.
Objectives:
This study aimed to examine the relationship between symptoms of Zoom-fatigue, autistic traits and sensory sensitivity.
Methods:
A large online survey was conducted among older adolescents and young adults with typical development and individuals in the same age range with a clinical diagnosis of ASD. Zoom fatigue was measured using the recently developed Zoom Exhaustion & Fatigue (ZEF) scale. Autistic traits were measured using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), and sensory sensitivity was measured using the Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire (GSQ). Bivariate and partial correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationships between these outcome measures.
Results:
Data collection is ongoing and will be completed by February 2023. Preliminary data from 225 participants (184 females, 35 males, 6 non-binary, mean age: 19.45, range: 17-30 years) showed that increased autistic symptomatology was associated with increased symptoms of Zoom fatigue (r = .41, p < .001). This relationship remained significant after controlling for sensory sensitivity (r = .15, p = .03). These preliminary results suggest that, in addition to increased sensory demands, individuals with ASD may face unique challenges in the use of VC. Future analyses and results from the final sample will be presented at the conference, and will examine whether and how sensory sensitivity may act as a potential mediator between autistic traits and zoom fatigue.
Conclusions:
Given that VC is now an intricate part of our society and is becoming increasingly more common in education and mental health services, it is important to examine how this increased digitalization of society affects the psychological well-being of neurodiverse populations such as individuals with ASD. Our preliminary results suggest that individuals with ASD may be more susceptible to symptoms of mental and physical exhaustion induced by VC. While more research is needed to examine the underlying mechanisms of this relationship, these findings may help increase awareness of neurodiversity in the field of computer-mediated communication, and may provide an impetus for the development of neurodiversity-sensitive solutions that make computer-mediated communication more accessible and inclusive.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of video conferencing (VC) has become an integral part of everyday life. Its implementations range from staying in touch with loved-ones, to work-related meetings, remote learning, and e-health services. While VC appears a convenient alternative to meeting face-to-face for many, it may be challenging for others. VC is known to induce symptoms of mental and physical exhaustion. One potential factor that may contribute to these symptoms, collectively known as Zoom-fatigue, is that compared to face-to-face meetings, VC requires increased cognitive and sensory demands, which in turn may lead to sensory overload. The extent to which Zoom fatigue is experienced varies from person to person, but individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in particular may be more susceptible to Zoom fatigue. The socio-communicative symptoms associated with ASD include atypical eye gaze patterns, ineffective use of nonverbal cues, and alterations in sensory processing, including hyper- and hyposensitivity to sensory stimulation. All of these symptoms may pose as potential risk factors for zoom-fatigue.
Objectives:
This study aimed to examine the relationship between symptoms of Zoom-fatigue, autistic traits and sensory sensitivity.
Methods:
A large online survey was conducted among older adolescents and young adults with typical development and individuals in the same age range with a clinical diagnosis of ASD. Zoom fatigue was measured using the recently developed Zoom Exhaustion & Fatigue (ZEF) scale. Autistic traits were measured using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), and sensory sensitivity was measured using the Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire (GSQ). Bivariate and partial correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationships between these outcome measures.
Results:
Data collection is ongoing and will be completed by February 2023. Preliminary data from 225 participants (184 females, 35 males, 6 non-binary, mean age: 19.45, range: 17-30 years) showed that increased autistic symptomatology was associated with increased symptoms of Zoom fatigue (r = .41, p < .001). This relationship remained significant after controlling for sensory sensitivity (r = .15, p = .03). These preliminary results suggest that, in addition to increased sensory demands, individuals with ASD may face unique challenges in the use of VC. Future analyses and results from the final sample will be presented at the conference, and will examine whether and how sensory sensitivity may act as a potential mediator between autistic traits and zoom fatigue.
Conclusions:
Given that VC is now an intricate part of our society and is becoming increasingly more common in education and mental health services, it is important to examine how this increased digitalization of society affects the psychological well-being of neurodiverse populations such as individuals with ASD. Our preliminary results suggest that individuals with ASD may be more susceptible to symptoms of mental and physical exhaustion induced by VC. While more research is needed to examine the underlying mechanisms of this relationship, these findings may help increase awareness of neurodiversity in the field of computer-mediated communication, and may provide an impetus for the development of neurodiversity-sensitive solutions that make computer-mediated communication more accessible and inclusive.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 6 May 2023 |
| Event | International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) 22nd annual meeting - Stockholmsmässan, Stockholm, Sweden Duration: 3 May 2023 → 6 May 2023 Conference number: 22 https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.autism-insar.org/resource/resmgr/docs/annualmeeting/2023insar_program_book_web.pdf |
Conference
| Conference | International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) 22nd annual meeting |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | INSAR 2023 |
| Country/Territory | Sweden |
| City | Stockholm |
| Period | 3/05/23 → 6/05/23 |
| Internet address |