Clarifying sex differences in social disability in Autism Spectrum Disorder Open Access

Moriuchi, Jennifer Michelle Kimiko (2017)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/707958452?locale=en
Published

Abstract

The diagnostic prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is significantly higher in males compared to females. Due to the relatively low frequency of affected females, many studies have excluded females or have included sample sizes too small to detect potential sex differences. As a result, sex-specific differences in ASD-related social behaviors and how those differences may relate to the etiology of the disorder remains limited. The current study leveraged multiple levels of behavioral metrics to identify similarities and differences in the manifestation of social disability across sexes (Study 1) and to determine shared and sex-specific predictors of positive functional outcomes (Study 2). In a sample of 259 school-age children, comprising 200 participants with ASD (136 male, 64 female) and 59 age-matched typically-developing peers (27 male, 32 female), we assessed the clinical phenotype of social disability based on parent report, clinician rating, and performance-based measures of social visual engagement. In Study 1, males and females with ASD did not differ based on parent report or clinician rating. Performance-based measures of social visual engagement were significantly less divergent from normative same-sex patterns in females with ASD compared to males. The factor structure of social disability across levels of measurement also differed in males and females. In Study 2, predictors of stronger adaptive social functioning did not differ across sexes. These results provide insight into the possible under-identification of females with ASD and emphasize the importance of considering sex-specific differences in typical development.

Table of Contents

Introduction.....................................1

Method............................................19

Results............................................31

Discussion.......................................38

References......................................45

Appendix (Figures, Tables)..............65

About this Dissertation

Rights statement
  • Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.
School
Department
Degree
Submission
Language
  • English
Research Field
Keyword
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor
Committee Members
Last modified

Primary PDF

Supplemental Files