Cluyssen, Daniella (2022) Factors Influencing the Recent Increase of Clinically Diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder in Girls and Women. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Autism is an umbrella term of neurodevelopmental conditions characterised by two main core symptom clusters: deficit in socio-communicational functioning and restrictive, repetitive behaviours. Although autism affects more males than females, it is not yet clear whether this difference reflects the phenotypical differences in autism across sexes. In this thesis, I included and analysed 31 peer-reviewed articles to shed more light on the sex difference in autism. PRISMA guidelines were used to identify the articles included in the final analysis. In the meta-analysis assessing the core symptom clusters, 13 papers were included. Weighted mean effect sizes were calculated for the standard assessments (ADI-R, ADOS, or RBS/RBS-R) subscales and the overall effects of sex were determined. Additional multi-regression investigated whether age and assessment influenced the effect sizes. Finally, I conducted a thematic analysis of seventeen articles to investigate the phenotypical differences in cognitive skills executive functioning and intelligence. In line with the hypotheses, results indicated that women with autism are less impaired than males on both symptom clusters. Regarding cognition, males with autism outperformed women on executive functioning, which is in line with the hypothesis. However, contrary to our expectations, most studies found no significant difference between males and females with autism in intelligence. Findings further indicate that different phenotypical features may characterise females compared to males with autism. Therefore, the revision of the standard, rather male-based and culturally influenced assessment methods, are required to establish a realistic sex ratio in the diagnostics of autism.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Groen, Y. and Fuermaier, A.B.M. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Clinical Neuropsychology (CN) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Dec 2022 13:05 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Dec 2022 13:05 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1495 |
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