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The Moderating Effect of Sex on Autistic Trait Emotional Intelligence, Alexithymia, and Empathy.

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Title: The Moderating Effect of Sex on Autistic Trait Emotional Intelligence, Alexithymia, and Empathy.
Authors: Cargill, Mary Isaac (AUTHOR), Lerner, Matthew D. (AUTHOR), Kang, Erin (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. Jan2026, Vol. 56 Issue 1, p134-147. 14p.
Subjects: Empathy, Pearson correlation (Statistics), T-test (Statistics), Research funding, Sex distribution, Autism, Emotional intelligence, Alexithymia, Two-way analysis of variance, Multiple regression analysis, Questionnaires, Multivariate analysis, Descriptive statistics, Statistics, Asperger's syndrome, Data analysis software, Intelligence tests, Symptoms
Abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with differences in social communication, and these differences are related to trait emotional intelligence (TEI), alexithymia, and empathy. Autism is known to present differently in males and females, but research on sex differences in TEI, alexithymia, and empathy is largely relegated to non-autistic people. Therefore, the current research sought to explore individual relationships between autistic characteristics and TEI, alexithymia, and empathy, as well as the possible influence of sex in these relationships. In the current study, autistic and non-autistic adults reported on their autistic characteristics, TEI, alexithymia, and empathy. Based on previous research, it was hypothesized that more autistic characteristics would be associated with less TEI, more alexithymia, and less empathy, and that these relationships would be more prominent amongst males. More autistic characteristics were associated with greater challenges across the three areas of interest. However, only the relationship between TEI and autistic characteristics was moderated by sex, such that males demonstrated higher support needs related to TEI than females. Results from this analysis indicate that adults with more autistic characteristics, regardless of diagnostic status, demonstrate differences in TEI, alexithymia, and empathy. The current analysis may offer additional context to the evolving understanding of empathy and autism by suggesting that TEI and alexithymia could account for differences in empathy. Moreover, sex seems to play a role in the relationship between autistic characteristics and TEI such that differences are especially prominent for males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: The Moderating Effect of Sex on Autistic Trait Emotional Intelligence, Alexithymia, and Empathy.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cargill%2C+Mary+Isaac%22">Cargill, Mary Isaac</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lerner%2C+Matthew+D%2E%22">Lerner, Matthew D.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kang%2C+Erin%22">Kang, Erin</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Autism+%26+Developmental+Disorders%22">Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders</searchLink>. Jan2026, Vol. 56 Issue 1, p134-147. 14p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Empathy%22">Empathy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pearson+correlation+%28Statistics%29%22">Pearson correlation (Statistics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22T-test+%28Statistics%29%22">T-test (Statistics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sex+distribution%22">Sex distribution</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autism%22">Autism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotional+intelligence%22">Emotional intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alexithymia%22">Alexithymia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Two-way+analysis+of+variance%22">Two-way analysis of variance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multiple+regression+analysis%22">Multiple regression analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Questionnaires%22">Questionnaires</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multivariate+analysis%22">Multivariate analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistics%22">Statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Asperger's+syndrome%22">Asperger's syndrome</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intelligence+tests%22">Intelligence tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Symptoms%22">Symptoms</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with differences in social communication, and these differences are related to trait emotional intelligence (TEI), alexithymia, and empathy. Autism is known to present differently in males and females, but research on sex differences in TEI, alexithymia, and empathy is largely relegated to non-autistic people. Therefore, the current research sought to explore individual relationships between autistic characteristics and TEI, alexithymia, and empathy, as well as the possible influence of sex in these relationships. In the current study, autistic and non-autistic adults reported on their autistic characteristics, TEI, alexithymia, and empathy. Based on previous research, it was hypothesized that more autistic characteristics would be associated with less TEI, more alexithymia, and less empathy, and that these relationships would be more prominent amongst males. More autistic characteristics were associated with greater challenges across the three areas of interest. However, only the relationship between TEI and autistic characteristics was moderated by sex, such that males demonstrated higher support needs related to TEI than females. Results from this analysis indicate that adults with more autistic characteristics, regardless of diagnostic status, demonstrate differences in TEI, alexithymia, and empathy. The current analysis may offer additional context to the evolving understanding of empathy and autism by suggesting that TEI and alexithymia could account for differences in empathy. Moreover, sex seems to play a role in the relationship between autistic characteristics and TEI such that differences are especially prominent for males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=191290300
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10803-024-06540-x
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 134
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Empathy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pearson correlation (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: T-test (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sex distribution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotional intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Alexithymia
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Two-way analysis of variance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Multiple regression analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Multivariate analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Asperger's syndrome
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intelligence tests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Symptoms
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Moderating Effect of Sex on Autistic Trait Emotional Intelligence, Alexithymia, and Empathy.
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            NameFull: Cargill, Mary Isaac
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            NameFull: Lerner, Matthew D.
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            NameFull: Kang, Erin
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            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Text: Jan2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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