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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 4/2019

13-12-2018 | Original Paper

Gender Variance and the Autism Spectrum: An Examination of Children Ages 6–12 Years

Auteurs: A. Natisha Nabbijohn, Anna I. R. van der Miesen, Alanna Santarossa, Diana Peragine, Annelou L. C. de Vries, Arne Popma, Meng-Chuan Lai, Doug P. VanderLaan

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 4/2019

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Abstract

Gender variance (GV) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently co-occur in clinical populations. We investigated GV in association with ASD characteristics in nonclinical children and in children with developmental/mental health diagnoses. In 6–12-year-olds (N = 2445; 51% birth-assigned boys), the Gender Identity Questionnaire for Children measured GV and the Children’s Social Behavior Questionnaire measured six subdomains of ASD characteristics. Among nonclinical children, GV was associated with parent-reported difficulties orienting socially and stereotyped behaviors. GV was also associated with parent-reported clinical diagnoses of ASD, sensory processing disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder. These findings suggest associations between specific ASD characteristics and GV in nonclinical children. Also, childhood GV should be further examined in a range of clinical populations, including ASD individuals.
vorige artikel Autism and Religious Beliefs: Clues from Kafka Research
volgende artikel Dietary Patterns and Anthropometric Measures of Indian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Voetnoten
1
Although SPD is not included in the DSM, it is included here for two reasons: (a) it has been conceptualized in the child development literature as a complex condition involving hyper- or hypo-sensitivity to sensory stimuli, a heightened drive for sensory experiences, difficulty discriminating sensations, and atypical responses to sensory stimuli that, together, impact daily functioning (Miller and Schaaf 2008), and (b) previous authors have forwarded the hypothesis that elevated GV might be associated with altered sensitivity towards certain sensory input (e.g. tactile sensations) that intersects with gender expression (de Vries et al. 2010; Tateno et al. 2008; Williams et al. 1996). This latter consideration is particularly relevant to the inclusion of SPD in the present study because it allows for a quantitative assessment of this previously proposed hypothesis.
 
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Metagegevens
Titel
Gender Variance and the Autism Spectrum: An Examination of Children Ages 6–12 Years
Auteurs
A. Natisha Nabbijohn
Anna I. R. van der Miesen
Alanna Santarossa
Diana Peragine
Annelou L. C. de Vries
Arne Popma
Meng-Chuan Lai
Doug P. VanderLaan
Publicatiedatum
13-12-2018
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 4/2019
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3843-z

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