Social competence, bullying, and suicidal risk in autistic adolescents: evidence from Chile

Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently present difficulties in social communication and interaction and are disproportionately exposed to bullying experiences, both of which have been associated with adverse mental health outcomes. The present study aimed to (1) examine differences in social competence and bullying experiences according to suicidal risk, and (2) analyze the associations between social competence, bullying, self-esteem, and suicidal risk in children and adolescents with ASD. It was hypothesized that greater exposure to bullying and lower levels of social competence would be associated with higher suicidal risk. A cross-sectional design was employed, including a sample of 103 adolescents with ASD, Level 1 support needs (DSM-5 criteria), selected using a non-probabilistic purposive sampling method. Social competence, bullying experiences, and suicidal risk were assessed using validated self-report instruments. Significant associations were observed between bullying experiences and suicidal risk (p < 0.05), with higher exposure to peer aggression linked to increased suicidal vulnerability. Additionally, lower levels of specific social competence domains were associated with a greater likelihood of suicidal ideation. These findings highlight the central role of social vulnerability in adolescents with ASD and underscore the importance of early identification and targeted, school-based interventions aimed at reducing bullying and strengthening social competence to mitigate suicidal risk in this population.