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Sex/gender differences in camouflaging in children and adolescents with autism

Sex/gender differences in camouflaging in children and adolescents with autism
Sex/gender differences in camouflaging in children and adolescents with autism
This study investigated sex/gender differences in camouflaging with children and adolescents (N = 84) with and without an autism diagnosis/increased levels of autistic traits using two conceptualisations/operationalisations of camouflaging. A significant group-by-gender interaction using ANCOVA, with the covariate of verbal IQ, reflected similar levels of social reciprocity in autistic and neurotypical females, whereas autistic males had lower reciprocity than neurotypical males. Autistic females also had higher reciprocity than autistic males, despite similar levels of autistic traits (behavioural camouflaging). Additionally, autistic males and females had similar theory of mind skills, despite females having increased reciprocity (compensatory camouflaging). These findings provide evidence of increased camouflaging in autistic females, which may contribute to delay in the recognition of difficulties and provision of support.

Autism, Camouflaging, Compensation, Masking, Reciprocity, Sex/gender differences, Theory of mind
0162-3257
Wood-Downie, Henry
3ea6dda6-516f-4bc8-9854-186540fb30e0
Wong, Bonnie
31f94a01-b4c5-474e-8807-aa2c1942f055
Kovshoff, Hanna
82c321ee-d151-40c5-8dde-281af59f2142
Mandy, William
28d9afef-9056-4c1e-a192-a9f3b9952f55
Hull, Laura
24d97916-c379-4251-ae4f-6f364f82d651
Hadwin, Julie
a364caf0-405a-42f3-a04c-4864817393ee
Wood-Downie, Henry
3ea6dda6-516f-4bc8-9854-186540fb30e0
Wong, Bonnie
31f94a01-b4c5-474e-8807-aa2c1942f055
Kovshoff, Hanna
82c321ee-d151-40c5-8dde-281af59f2142
Mandy, William
28d9afef-9056-4c1e-a192-a9f3b9952f55
Hull, Laura
24d97916-c379-4251-ae4f-6f364f82d651
Hadwin, Julie
a364caf0-405a-42f3-a04c-4864817393ee

Wood-Downie, Henry, Wong, Bonnie, Kovshoff, Hanna, Mandy, William, Hull, Laura and Hadwin, Julie (2020) Sex/gender differences in camouflaging in children and adolescents with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. (doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04615-z).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This study investigated sex/gender differences in camouflaging with children and adolescents (N = 84) with and without an autism diagnosis/increased levels of autistic traits using two conceptualisations/operationalisations of camouflaging. A significant group-by-gender interaction using ANCOVA, with the covariate of verbal IQ, reflected similar levels of social reciprocity in autistic and neurotypical females, whereas autistic males had lower reciprocity than neurotypical males. Autistic females also had higher reciprocity than autistic males, despite similar levels of autistic traits (behavioural camouflaging). Additionally, autistic males and females had similar theory of mind skills, despite females having increased reciprocity (compensatory camouflaging). These findings provide evidence of increased camouflaging in autistic females, which may contribute to delay in the recognition of difficulties and provision of support.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 20 July 2020
Published date: 20 July 2020
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2020, The Author(s).
Related URLs:
Keywords: Autism, Camouflaging, Compensation, Masking, Reciprocity, Sex/gender differences, Theory of mind

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 442794
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/442794
ISSN: 0162-3257
PURE UUID: c71eb12e-24c3-40e6-82eb-7da3b87c2f58
ORCID for Hanna Kovshoff: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6041-0376

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 27 Jul 2020 16:31
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:55

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Contributors

Author: Bonnie Wong
Author: Hanna Kovshoff ORCID iD
Author: William Mandy
Author: Laura Hull
Author: Julie Hadwin

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