Skip to content
Deutsch

Adults on the spectrum

Masking: when adapting is exhausting

Who is it for? For adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum who often put on a front or adapt in everyday life. Also for relatives and professionals who want to understand why someone can seem "inconspicuous" and still be under heavy strain.

In brief

Masking (in research mostly camouflaging, that is, "disguising") refers to strategies by which people on the autism spectrum adapt to an environment shaped mainly by people without autism. This includes, for example, deliberately making eye contact or preparing topics of conversation in advance. [2] People report that, with masking, they hope to avoid exclusion. [2] But studies also find links with exhaustion, anxiety and depression. Research on this is still young, and much is not conclusively settled.

This English translation was produced with AI assistance and has not yet been independently reviewed.

What exactly masking means

A systematic review describes camouflaging as particular behavioural and thinking strategies by which people on the autism spectrum adapt to, or cope in, a social world shaped mainly by people without autism. [1] In the specialist literature, the terms compensation and masking are also used for this. [1]

Three areas are often distinguished: [5]

  • Masking in the narrower sense: hiding features of autism, for example suppressing stimming. [2]
  • Compensation: making up for difficulties, for example through deliberately produced eye contact or prepared topics of conversation. [2]
  • Assimilation: fitting into social roles in order to belong. [5]

Why people with autism mask

In an interview study with adults on the autism spectrum, respondents named, among other reasons, wanting to belong and make contacts and wanting to avoid negative reactions. [2] From the respondents’ point of view, the environment plays a role here. [2]

How masking is experienced

In an interview study (92 adults, mostly women), respondents reported exhaustion, uncertainty about their own identity and anxiety in connection with masking. These are self-reports. [2]

In several studies, stronger camouflaging was linked with more general anxiety, social anxiety and depression. [5] Such studies show a link, but not what is cause and what is consequence (see the evidence box).

An example from everyday life (invented example, not an individual case): a person seems talkative and relaxed in the office but has mentally prepared for every encounter. At home afterwards, they need hours of complete quiet. Others see none of this.

Masking and diagnosis

In qualitative studies, people report that masking may have delayed their diagnosis; quantitative studies are inconsistent, and the direction of the link is unclear. [5] In several studies, women and girls reported higher camouflaging scores than men and boys; increased compensation was also reported in non-binary people. [5] More on this in the article Women and autism.

Anyone considering an assessment can openly mention the masking they experience. Notes on this are in the article Assessment in adulthood.

What can help

The authors of a study on autistic burnout point to possible dangers when people with autism are taught to hide features of their autism. [3] We have not evaluated which measures demonstrably reduce the strain of masking. The following points are therefore considerations, not tested therapy recommendations:

  • Notice when and where you mask. And how much energy that costs each time.
  • Look for places and people where masking is less necessary.
  • Plan recovery time firmly, especially after socially demanding situations.
  • Ask for adjustments in your environment, for example at work, rather than doing all of the adapting yourself. See Work and career.
  • Seek professional support if exhaustion, anxiety or low mood persist. See Psychotherapy for people with autism.

If you are feeling very bad or are thinking about suicide, you can reach the TelefonSeelsorge day and night, free of charge and anonymous, on 0800 111 0 111, 0800 111 0 222 or 116 123. [4] In acute danger call the emergency number 112. Further information is in the article Autistic burnout.

For relatives and professionals: if someone “copes well”, this does not automatically mean the person is doing well.

What do we know – what is still open?

Consistently reported in studies

  • In studies, people on the autism spectrum report that they hide or compensate for features of their autism. The samples are mostly adults, the measurement methods differ, and representativeness is limited. [1]
  • The reasons and experiences come from an interview study with 92 adults (mostly women); they are self-reports. [2]

Probably, or found repeatedly

  • Stronger camouflaging is linked with more anxiety and depression in several studies. [5]

Limited or contradictory evidence

  • Whether and how masking is linked to a late or missing diagnosis: three qualitative studies found a link, two quantitative studies did not; the direction remains unclear. [5]
  • How masking is linked to thinking abilities, such as executive functions, intelligence or the ability to put oneself in others’ shoes: the results are inconsistent here. [5]
  • How well masking can be measured: there are different measurement approaches, such as self-report or comparing inner experience with outward behaviour. [1]
  • The research mostly concerns adults; whether the measurement approaches are suitable for all groups (such as adolescents), we have not checked.

Open questions

  • Whether masking causes psychological strain, whether strained people mask more, or both.
  • Which support effectively reduces the strain.

Note: This article offers general information. It does not replace a personal assessment, advice or treatment by professionals.

Sources and literature

  1. Cook J, Hull L, Crane L, Mandy W. Camouflaging in autism: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review 2021;89:102080. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102080 – Systematic review
  2. Hull L, Petrides KV, Allison C, et al. “Putting on my best normal”: Social camouflaging in adults with autism spectrum conditions. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 2017;47(8):2519–2534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5 – Qualitative study
  3. Raymaker DM, Teo AR, Steckler NA, et al. “Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: Defining autistic burnout. Autism in Adulthood 2020;2(2):132–143. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2019.0079 – Qualitative, participatory study
  4. TelefonSeelsorge Deutschland. https://www.telefonseelsorge.de/ – Counselling service (website in German)
  5. Klein J, Krahn R, Howe S, et al. A systematic review of social camouflaging in autistic adults and youth: implications and theory. Development and Psychopathology 2025;37(3):1320–1334 (online 2024). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579424001159 – Systematic review

Terms from this article

Masking
Strategies people on the autism spectrum use to adapt to an environment shaped mostly by people without autism. In research usually called “camouflaging”.

You might also be interested in

Found a mistake?

If something is factually wrong, out of date or unclear, let us know. You do not have to give any personal details.

Write a noteClose note

What is wrong? A source helps us check it. At least 10 characters.

Only for follow-up questions about this note. Deleted as soon as it has been dealt with. More in the privacy policy (German).

Built independently

Autismus Wissen is being built and developed independently. If you would like to support the project, you can make a voluntary contribution. Your support has no influence on our editorial content or expert assessments.

Support Autismus Wissen