Gender diversity in autistic and neurotypical youth over adolescence and puberty: A longitudinal study.
Blythe A Corbett, Rachael A Muscatello, Melissa Cyperski and 5 others
PMID 38661056WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic girls assigned female at birth reported and showed higher gender diversity scores than typically developing girls, with patterns shifting during puberty.
Boys assigned male at birth showed stable gender diversity scores regardless of diagnosis. Parent and self-reports did not correlate, suggesting both perspectives are needed.
Key findings
01Autistic AFAB youth showed higher gender diversity scores that evolved over development, while AMAB youth showed relatively stable patterns regardless of diagnosis.
02Parent and self-report scores on gender diversity were not correlated in this population, highlighting the importance of gathering data from both sources.
03There was no significant difference in within-subject variability between parent-reported and self-reported gender diversity scores.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The sample was predominantly white and male-biased, limiting generalizability to other racial groups and AFAB youth. The study did not include clinical interviews to characterize the nature of gender identity or dysphoria, so it is unclear if findings extend to individuals diagnosed with both autism and gender dysphoria. Attrition was 33%, primarily occurring between Year 1 and Year 2, though missingness was related to diagnosis. The study only covered ages 10 to 16, so it does not capture gender development from childhood through full adulthood. Data collection occurred between 2017 and 2022, before recent legislative changes affecting access to gender-affirming care.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest. The study was supported by non-U.S. government and NIH extramural funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that parent reports of gender diversity accurately reflect the child's self-reported experience. In this study, parent and self-report scores were not correlated, meaning a parent may not observe or interpret gender diversity in the same way the child experiences it. Both sources of information are necessary.