Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogenous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by atypical social communication and restrictive and repetitive behavior. In recent years, researchers and clinicians have placed increased emphasis on emotional health, emotion regulation, and emotion dysregulation among individuals with ASD. A growing body of work in this field has documented individuals with ASD experience high rates of emotion dysregulation and impairment in adaptive functioning across the lifespan. However, methodological limitations, mixed results in the literature, and a dearth of studies centering autistic perspectives raise questions about the field’s comprehensive understanding of emotion in ASD. This chapter seeks to provide a broad overview of the current state of research examining emotion regulation among autistic individuals and highlight future directions toward comprehensive research and clinical practice.
Part of the book: New Insights into Emotional Intelligence