Masking behavior in autistic adults in occupational settings: risks, consequences, and support strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25118/2763-9037.2026.v16.1666Keywords:
autism spectrum disorder, Imitative behavior, psychological adaptation, occupational stress, ASDAbstract
Introduction: Social camouflaging, or masking, describes the deliberate or automatic effort that autistic adults use to conceal autism-related traits and adopt behaviors that predominantly non-autistic environments consider typical. Although its psychosocial effects and implications for workplace inclusion are increasingly recognized, evidence in occupational settings remains limited and fragmented. Objective: To critically analyze recent literature on masking among autistic adults in the workplace, focusing on its motivations, manifestations, psychosocial impacts, and the organizational strategies that may mitigate its occurrence and effects. Method: Narrative review guided by the SANRA criteria. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2017 and January 2025, including original articles, reviews, qualitative studies, case reports, and institutional documents in English and Portuguese that addressed masking among autistic adults at work. Results: Four thematic categories emerged: motivations and masking strategies (compensation, behavioral suppression, and adaptive assimilation); psychosocial impacts (anxiety, depression, autistic burnout, and identity conflicts); organizational factors that maintain masking (limited autism knowledge, lack of accommodations, and cultural barriers); and institutional support strategies (structural interventions, manager training, environmental adjustments, and inclusive organizational culture). Conclusion: The findings indicate a need for multidimensional interventions that combine individual support with structural workplace changes. Given the heterogeneous and largely qualitative evidence base, we recommend further longitudinal, standardized, representative, and participatory studies that involve autistic individuals.
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