a
SAD
Using SPIN scores to investigate the relationship between autistic
traits and SAD, as demonstrated by Figure 2a, Step One determined that
SPIN scores were a significant predictor of AQ score, β =.51.,SE =.03, t (358)=11.29, p <.001, accounting
for 26.1% of the variance,F (1,358)=127.52, p <0.001. Step Two demonstrated
SPIN scores were also a significant predictor of IU scores,β =.55, SE =.03, t (358)=12.46,p <.001, and accounted for 30.1% of the variance in AQ
scores F (1,358)=, p <0.001. The previous model
has already demonstrated that both IU and SOR are significant predictors
of AQ, satisfying Step Three for each model. The final Step of the
mediation process involved predicting AQ with SPIN and IU scores, with
this model accounting for 32.1% of the varianceF (2,357)=85.94, p <0.001, yet both SPIN scores
(β =.35, SE =.03, t (358)=6.69,p <.001) and IU scores (β =.30, SE =.04,t (358)=5.74, p <.001) remained significant
predictors. A Sobel test was conducted and revealed partial mediation in
the model as the effect of SPIN was significantly reduced when
controlling for IU (z= 8.10, p <0.001).
Regressions were also conducted to determine if SOR may be a mediator
between SAD and ASC, with the final model demonstrated in Figure 2b.
SPIN scores were a significant predictor of SOR scores, β =.41,SE =.08, t (358)=8.61, p <.001, and
accounted for 16.9% of the varianceF (1,358)=74.14, p <0.001. In the final step of
the model, SPIN scores remained a significant predictor (β =.35,SE =.03 t (358)=7.75, p <.001) even after
controlling for SOR scores (β =.38, SE =.02,t (358)=8.43, p <.001), with the model accounting
for 38.2% of the variance in AQ scores,F (2,357)=111.78, p <0.001. A Sobel test was
conducted and revealed partial mediation in the model (z= 6.91,p <0.001).