Self-reported masking in sexual minority and heterosexual autistic adults.
Goldie A McQuaid, Nancy Raitano Lee, Gregory L Wallace
PMID 40304097WHAT IT FOUND
Sexual minority autistic adults reported slightly more masking than heterosexual autistic adults.
The difference was small and driven by assimilation and compensation strategies rather than direct concealment. Clinicians should recognize that sexual minority status is associated with increased social camouflaging.
Key findings
01Sexual minority autistic adults reported significantly higher total masking scores than heterosexual autistic adults, though the effect size was small.
02Follow-up analysis showed the difference was significant for assimilation and compensation subscales but not for the masking subscale.
03The association between sexual minority status and masking remained significant after controlling for sex assigned at birth, age, and gender identity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was predominantly White and non-Latina/o/e, limiting generalizability to racial and ethnic minorities. Masking was measured only via self-report, which may not capture implicit or unconscious masking behaviors. The study design is cross-sectional, so it cannot determine if sexual minority status causes increased masking or if other factors are involved. The effect sizes for the primary findings were small, meaning the practical impact of this difference may be limited.
Declared interests
The authors declare no competing financial or other interests. The study was supported by NIH and non-US government grants.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that sexual minority autistic adults conceal their autistic identity more than heterosexual autistic adults. The significant differences were found in assimilation and compensation strategies, not in the specific subscale measuring concealment of autistic traits.