Arab Educational Information Network

The study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate and level of gelotophobia among adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (hfASD) and identify the differences in gelotophobia considering various demographic variables. The descriptive approach was employed in this study. The participants consisted of 76 adolescents with hfASD who experienced gelotophobia. They were selected from a large group of 181 adolescents enrolled in preparatory and secondary stages in Cairo, Egypt. The age range of the participants was 13 to 17 years. Among the participants, there were 31 males (40.79%) and 45 females (59.21%). The gelotophobia scale, developed specifically for this study, was utilized for data collection. The results indicated a gelotophobia prevalence rate of 41.98% among adolescents with hfASD. Additionally, the participants exhibited a moderate level of gelotophobia. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated differences between males and females in the manifestation of gelotophobia, with a higher incidence observed among females. This gender difference may be attributed to the fact that females are often subjected to experiences of harassment, particularly during adolescence, which may result from physical attributes such as obesity or excessive thinness, thus contributing to the development of gelotophobia. However, no significant differences in gelotophobia were found based on participants' age. Further research is needed to explore additional factors influencing gelotophobia in this population. (Published abstract)