Sex Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Examination of Developmental Functioning, Autistic Symptoms, and Coexisting Behavior Problems in Toddlers
Open accessAbstract
Little is known about the female presentation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during early childhood. We investigated sex differences in developmental profiles using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning, autistic symptoms on the ADOS-G, and coexisting behavior problems on the CBCL in 157 boys and 42 girls with ASD aged 1.5-3.9 years. Overall, boys and girls evidenced a markedly similar pattern of developmental profiles, autism symptoms, and coexisting behavior problems, although subtle differences exist. Boys and girls evidenced a similar pattern of developmental strengths and weaknesses. Girls with ASD evidenced greater communication deficits than boys and boys evidenced more restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped behavior than girls. Girls exhibited more sleep problems and anxious or depressed affect than boys.
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Age-equivalent scores on the MSEL are calibrated in months and are more sensitive to the low performance common in ASD samples than standard scores.
“Age-equivalent scores are calibrated in months and are more sensitive to the low performance common in ASD samples than standard scores [17, 30].”
From Early sex differences are not autism-specific: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC) study (2015) · cites this paper as [17]
In both the Autism Genome Project and a recent study of 3- and 4-year-olds, males with ASD had higher levels of repetitive behavior than females.
“In both the Autism Genome Project [16] and a recent study of 3- and 4-year-olds [17], males with ASD had higher levels of repetitive behavior than females.”
From Early sex differences are not autism-specific: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC) study (2015) · cites this paper as [17]
Elevation in restricted and repetitive behaviors in boys is a robust sex difference, evident in both younger and older children with ASD.
“Elevation in restricted and repetitive behaviors in boys is a robust sex difference, evident in both younger [17] and older children with ASD [16].”
From Early sex differences are not autism-specific: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC) study (2015) · cites this paper as [17]
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References 48 · Cited by 355
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (fourth edition, text revision 2000 Washington, DC Author
- Schultz RT Romanski LM Tsatsanis KD Klin A Volkmar FR Sparrow SS Neurofunctional models of autistic disorder and Asperger syndrome: Clues from neuroimaging Asperger syndrome 2000 New York, NY Guilford Press 172 209
- Authors
- Hartley, S. L., & Sikora, D. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Oregon Health & Science University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hartley, Sigan L.
- ORCID
- Hartley, Sigan L.
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2009-07-07
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1715-1722
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- PMC
- PMC3590797
- OpenAlex
- W2073080592
- Cited by
- 355
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 6.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (T32 HD 07489, P30HD03352., P30HD003352, T32HD007489)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, sex differences, toddlers, developmental functioning, autism symptoms, communication difficulties, restricted and repetitive behaviors, sleep disorders, early childhood
- MeSH terms
- Child Behavior, Child Development, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Sex Characteristics, Infant Behavior
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