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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

23-04-2024 | Brief Report

Gender Differences: Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the ADOS-II

Auteurs: Ingrid S. Tien, Junok Kim, Amanda R. Johnson, Jeffrey J. Wood

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Abstract

Purpose

Recent research has suggested that autism may present differently in girls compared to boys, encouraging the exploration of a sex-differential diagnostic criteria. Gender differences in diagnostic assessments have been shown on the ADOS-II, such that, on average, females score significantly lower than males on all scales and are less likely to show atypicality on most items related to social communicative difficulties. Yet, gender differences in the latent structure of instruments like the ADOS-II have not been examined systematically.

Methods

As such, this secondary data analysis examined 4,100 youth diagnosed with autism (M_age = 9.9, 813 female & 3287 male) examined item response trends by gender on the ADOS-II Module 3.

Results

Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis results show that the factor loadings of four ADOS-II items differ across the genders. One SCD item and one RRB item are strongly related to the latent factor in the female group, while two RRB items have larger factor loadings in the male group.

Conclusion

The assumption of an identical latent factor structure for the ADOS-II Module 3 for males and females might not be justifiable. Possible diagnostic implications are discussed.

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Titel: Gender Differences: Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the ADOS-II
Auteurs: Ingrid S. Tien
Junok Kim
Amanda R. Johnson
Jeffrey J. Wood
Publicatiedatum: 23-04-2024
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06346-x

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Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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