TY - JOUR
T1 - Shining a Light on a Hidden Population
T2 - Social Functioning and Mental Health in Women Reporting Autistic Traits But Lacking Diagnosis
AU - Belcher, Hannah L.
AU - Morein-Zamir, Sharon
AU - Stagg, Steven D.
AU - Ford, Ruth M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Female Phenotype Theory (FPT) suggests that autistic women often present with less obvious social impairments than autistic men. We examined the possibility of an exaggerated female phenotype among undiagnosed but probably autistic women. In two nationwide online surveys, we compared self-reported social functioning and mental health between diagnosed autistic women and women without diagnosis who scored ≥ 32 on the Autism Quotient. Compared to diagnosed autistic women, probably autistic women had higher empathy and general social functioning, and were more likely to have received a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. Autistic women had typically received more mental health diagnoses prior to their ASC diagnosis than autistic men. These findings shed light on the history of misdiagnosis experienced by many autistic women.
AB - Female Phenotype Theory (FPT) suggests that autistic women often present with less obvious social impairments than autistic men. We examined the possibility of an exaggerated female phenotype among undiagnosed but probably autistic women. In two nationwide online surveys, we compared self-reported social functioning and mental health between diagnosed autistic women and women without diagnosis who scored ≥ 32 on the Autism Quotient. Compared to diagnosed autistic women, probably autistic women had higher empathy and general social functioning, and were more likely to have received a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. Autistic women had typically received more mental health diagnoses prior to their ASC diagnosis than autistic men. These findings shed light on the history of misdiagnosis experienced by many autistic women.
KW - Autism masking
KW - Autism spectrum conditions
KW - Female phenotype of autism
KW - Late diagnosis
KW - Misdiagnosis
KW - Psychiatric comorbidity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130294401&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10803-022-05583-2
DO - 10.1007/s10803-022-05583-2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85130294401
SN - 0162-3257
JO - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
JF - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
ER -