| Title: |
Gender, Assigned Sex at Birth, and Gender Diversity: Windows into Diagnostic Timing Disparities in Autism |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Goldie A. McQuaid (ORCID 0000-0003-3614-616X); Allison B. Ratto (ORCID 0000-0002-9387-8044); Allison Jack; Alexis Khuu; Jessica V. Smith (ORCID 0009-0002-4097-0653); Sean C. Duane (ORCID 0000-0002-5494-2859); Ann Clawson; Nancy Raitano Lee (ORCID 0000-0002-6663-0713); Alyssa Verbalis; Kevin A. Pelphrey; Lauren Kenworthy; Gregory L. Wallace (ORCID 0000-0003-0329-5054); John F. Strang |
| Source: |
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. 2024 28(11):2806-2820. |
| Availability: |
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
15 |
| Publication Date: |
2024 |
| Sponsoring Agency: |
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (DHHS/NIH); National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS) |
| Contract Number: |
R01MH100028; KL2TR001877 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: |
Sex; Sexual Identity; Diversity; LGBTQ People; Clinical Diagnosis; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Time; Age Differences; Gender Differences; Children; Adolescents; Young Adults; Medical Services; Clinics; Community Surveys |
| DOI: |
10.1177/13623613241243117 |
| ISSN: |
1362-3613; 1461-7005 |
| Abstract: |
Later autism diagnosis is associated with increased mental health risks. Understanding disparities in diagnostic timing is important to reduce psychiatric burden for autistic people. One characteristic associated with later autism diagnosis is female sex assigned at birth. However, literature to date does not characterize, differentiate, or account for gender identity beyond assigned sex at birth. Gender diversity may be more common in autistic relative to neurotypical people, and autism is proportionally overrepresented in gender-diverse populations. We examined age at autism diagnosis by assigned sex at birth, gender identity, and gender diversity (gender-diverse vs cisgender) status, separately. Three independent cohorts representing different ascertainments were examined: a research-recruited academic medical center sample (N = 193; 8.0-18.0 years); a clinic-based sample (N = 1550; 1.3-25.4 years); and a community-enriched sample (N = 244, 18.2-30.0 years). The clinic-based and community-enriched samples revealed disparities in diagnostic timing: people assigned female at birth, people of female gender, and gender-diverse people were diagnosed with autism significantly later than persons assigned male at birth, persons of male gender, and cisgender persons, respectively. Birth-sex, gender identity, and gender diversity may each uniquely relate to disparities in autism diagnostic timing. The influence of ascertainment strategies, particularly in studies examining assigned sex at birth or gender identity, should be considered. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2024 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1445340 |
| Database: |
ERIC |