Sex/Gender Differences in Camouflaging in Children and Adolescents with Autism

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 2020 Jul 22

PMID 32691191

Citations 54

Authors

Henry Wood-Downie

Bonnie Wong

Hanna Kovshoff

William Mandy

Laura Hull

Julie A Hadwin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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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