Sex Differences in Autistic Youth Born Extremely Preterm.
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| Title: | Sex Differences in Autistic Youth Born Extremely Preterm. |
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| Authors: | McFayden, Tyler C. (AUTHOR), Harrop, Clare (AUTHOR), Roell, Kyle (AUTHOR), Joseph, Robert M. (AUTHOR), Fry, Rebecca C. (AUTHOR), O'Shea, T. Michael (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. Feb2026, Vol. 56 Issue 2, p830-837. 8p. |
| Subjects: | Diagnosis of autism, Research funding, T-test (Statistics), Data analysis, Sex distribution, Scientific observation, Probability theory, Questionnaires, Fisher exact test, Descriptive statistics, Longitudinal method, Statistics, Communication, Asperger's syndrome, Data analysis software, Adolescence |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | Purpose: To evaluate sex differences in autistic traits in youth born extremely preterm (EP; 23–27 weeks) who were later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at 10-years. Method: A longitudinal cohort design from the Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborn Study (ELGAN) followed N = 857 EP infants from birth through 10-years. EP infants later diagnosed with ASD (N = 61, 20 females) participated in the study. Group differences were evaluated via inferential and Bayesian statistics (values > 1 suggest evidence for alternate hypothesis) on ASD screeners (M-CHAT at 2-years, SCQ and SRS-2 at 10-years), and gold-standard diagnostic measures (ADOS-2, ADI-R) at 10-years. Results: Males scored significantly higher than females on measures of Social Affect from the ADOS-2, t(34.27)=-2.20, BF10 = 2.33, and measures of Repetitive and Restricted Behaviors from the ADI-R, t(40.52)=-2.85, BF10 = 5.26. Bayesian estimates suggested marginal evidence for sex differences in Nonverbal Communication, t(30.66)=-1.81, BF10 = 1.25, and Verbal Communication, t(24.64)=-1.89, BF10 = 1.39, from the ADI-R, wherein males scored higher than females. No statistically significant sex differences were identified on any of the ASD screeners at 2 (M-CHAT) or 10 years (SCQ). No significant sex differences were observed on any subscales of the SRS at 10 years. Conclusions: EP autistic males present with more autistic traits than EP autistic females on gold-standard diagnostic measures of autism at 10-years of age, despite not presenting with higher autistic traits on screeners at either age. These results align with sex differences observed in full-term, autistic youth. These results suggest ASD screeners may under identify autism in EP youth, particularly females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Purpose: To evaluate sex differences in autistic traits in youth born extremely preterm (EP; 23–27 weeks) who were later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at 10-years. Method: A longitudinal cohort design from the Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborn Study (ELGAN) followed N = 857 EP infants from birth through 10-years. EP infants later diagnosed with ASD (N = 61, 20 females) participated in the study. Group differences were evaluated via inferential and Bayesian statistics (values > 1 suggest evidence for alternate hypothesis) on ASD screeners (M-CHAT at 2-years, SCQ and SRS-2 at 10-years), and gold-standard diagnostic measures (ADOS-2, ADI-R) at 10-years. Results: Males scored significantly higher than females on measures of Social Affect from the ADOS-2, t(34.27)=-2.20, BF10 = 2.33, and measures of Repetitive and Restricted Behaviors from the ADI-R, t(40.52)=-2.85, BF10 = 5.26. Bayesian estimates suggested marginal evidence for sex differences in Nonverbal Communication, t(30.66)=-1.81, BF10 = 1.25, and Verbal Communication, t(24.64)=-1.89, BF10 = 1.39, from the ADI-R, wherein males scored higher than females. No statistically significant sex differences were identified on any of the ASD screeners at 2 (M-CHAT) or 10 years (SCQ). No significant sex differences were observed on any subscales of the SRS at 10 years. Conclusions: EP autistic males present with more autistic traits than EP autistic females on gold-standard diagnostic measures of autism at 10-years of age, despite not presenting with higher autistic traits on screeners at either age. These results align with sex differences observed in full-term, autistic youth. These results suggest ASD screeners may under identify autism in EP youth, particularly females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 01623257 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10803-024-06319-0 |
