# Assessing Anxiety in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Autonomic Activity as a Biomarker

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · 2024 · $194,797

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Children with autism and anxiety exhibit significantly more self-injurious behavior, more depressive symptoms,
poorer relationships with teachers, peers, and family members, and higher levels of aggressive behavior
relative to children with autism without anxiety symptoms. Yet, identifying anxiety in autism populations can be
difficult, emphasizing the need for objective measures of anxiety. Additionally, autism research has historically
excluded Black/African American and other minorities. Therefore, investigating developmental risk and
protective factors that are associated with anxiety symptoms within a more racially diverse autistic population is
critical to prevent or reduce negative mental health outcomes. Therefore, the current study aims to collect a
large sample of autistic and nonautistic adolescents to evaluate whether the presence of atypical autonomic
activity is a biomarker of anxiety in autistic youth. This proposal has three aims: 1) to investigate the
association between baseline autonomic activity and anxiety levels in adolescents with and without autism; 2)
to examine the role of ecological context and race and their relation with baseline autonomic activity and
anxiety in adolescents with and without autism; and 3) to utilize real world experience sampling and
noninvasive heart rate monitors to capture real-time data on autonomic activity, anxiety levels, and ecological
context in the natural settings of adolescents with and without autism. Such knowledge will allow for
identification of anxiety in autistic youth that would otherwise be unable to report on anxiety and
inform the development of interventions that are generalizable to a racially diverse population.
In the proposed K08 career development plan, I will undertake training in the Maryland Center for Health
Equity including field observations in the Black/African American community to explore aspects of the
ecological context and how those experiences relate to autonomic activity and anxiety in a racially diverse
sample. Additionally, I will acquire core knowledge in psychophysiology as related to the parasympathetic
nervous system, develop expertise in the assessment of anxiety, receive advanced training in quantitative
methodology for multilevel modeling of intensive longitudinal data, and training in ecological momentary
assessment best practices. Successful completion of these aims would lay the groundwork for validating the
use of autonomic activity as an objective transdiagnostic biomarker of anxiety in autism and contribute to the
development of targeted interventions that promote emotional well-being, empower youth with autism from
diverse backgrounds, and improve their overall quality of life. Completion of the training goals will prepare me
as an independent researcher in the fields of autism, developmental psychopathology, and clinical science with
experience in recruiting and working with diverse populations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10886374
- **Project number:** 1K08MH133879-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
- **Principal Investigator:** Heather Yarger
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $194,797
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-01 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10886374

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10886374, Assessing Anxiety in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Autonomic Activity as a Biomarker (1K08MH133879-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10886374. Licensed CC0.

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