Autistic traits in treatment-seeking transgender adults

Nobili, Anna; Glazebrook, Cris; Bouman, Walter Pierre; Glidden, Derek; Baron-Cohen, Simon; Allison, Carrie; Smith, Paula; Arcelus, Jon

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare prevalence of autistic traits as measured by the Autism Spectrum Quotient-Short (AQ-Short) in a transgender clinical population (n=656) matched by age and sex assigned at birth to a typical cisgender community sample. Transgender people assigned female at birth were approximately twice as likely to have clinically significant levels of autistic traits compared to cisgender females. No difference was found between those assigned male at birth. High level of AQ scores may not be indicative of the presence of an autism spectrum condition as the difference between groups mainly related to social difficulties. Such AQ scores may be a reflection of transgender people presenting with high levels of social anxiety due to negative past experiences.

Citation

Nobili, A., Glazebrook, C., Bouman, W. P., Glidden, D., Baron-Cohen, S., Allison, C., Smith, P., & Arcelus, J. (2018). Autistic traits in treatment-seeking transgender adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(12), 3984–3994. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3557-2

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 29, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Apr 13, 2018
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Deposit Date: Apr 9, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 13, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
• Print ISSN: 0162-3257
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-3432
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 48
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 3984–3994
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3557-2
• Keywords: Autism Spectrum Conditions, autistic traits, Transgender, Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), social issues, social anxiety
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/924693
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10803-018-3557-2
• Contract Date: Apr 9, 2018