What does this research mean for the field?

Sex differences in the intensity of autistic traits among adults with ASD depend on the measurement modality used, with females exhibiting lower clinician-rated trait intensity but similar self- and informant-reported traits compared to males. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine the degree of convergence and identify sex-based discrepancies among self-reported, informant-reported, and clinician-rated autistic traits in autistic and neurotypical adults.

September 14, 2026Autism ResearchOpen Access

Measurement‐Dependent Sex‐Based Differences in Autistic Traits: Comparing Self‐Report, Informant‐Report, and Clinician Observation in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

RIRio Ishida KYKazuhiko Yamamuro NKNatsuko Kashida

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Comparative study reveals sex-based discrepancies across diagnostic modalities in autistic adults, indicating that clinician assessments may systematically underestimate autistic traits in females.

Key Points

To determine the degree of convergence and identify sex-based discrepancies among self-reported, informant-reported, and clinician-rated autistic traits in autistic and neurotypical adults.
Evaluated 219 adults with autism spectrum disorder and 130 typically developing individuals.
Assessed autistic traits using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient Japanese version (self-report), the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (informant-report), and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition, Module 4 (clinician-rated).
Applied repeated-measures analyses to evaluate modality-by-sex interaction effects on trait intensity.
Self-report (AQ-J) and informant-report (SRS-2) scores were significantly elevated in participants with autism spectrum disorder compared to typically developing controls, showing minimal sex differences.
Clinician-rated ADOS-2 scores were significantly higher in males than in females within the autism group.
Repeated-measures analysis demonstrated a significant measure-by-sex interaction (p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.036), driven by significantly lower clinician-rated trait scores in autistic females despite equivalent survey scores.

Cite This Study

Ishida et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7b3df0926e14a848b3179 https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.70369

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

September 14, 2026Autism ResearchOpen Access

Measurement‐Dependent Sex‐Based Differences in Autistic Traits: Comparing Self‐Report, Informant‐Report, and Clinician Observation in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

RIRio Ishida KYKazuhiko Yamamuro NKNatsuko Kashida

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Comparative study reveals sex-based discrepancies across diagnostic modalities in autistic adults, indicating that clinician assessments may systematically underestimate autistic traits in females.

Key Points

To determine the degree of convergence and identify sex-based discrepancies among self-reported, informant-reported, and clinician-rated autistic traits in autistic and neurotypical adults.
Evaluated 219 adults with autism spectrum disorder and 130 typically developing individuals.
Assessed autistic traits using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient Japanese version (self-report), the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (informant-report), and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition, Module 4 (clinician-rated).
Applied repeated-measures analyses to evaluate modality-by-sex interaction effects on trait intensity.
Self-report (AQ-J) and informant-report (SRS-2) scores were significantly elevated in participants with autism spectrum disorder compared to typically developing controls, showing minimal sex differences.
Clinician-rated ADOS-2 scores were significantly higher in males than in females within the autism group.
Repeated-measures analysis demonstrated a significant measure-by-sex interaction (p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.036), driven by significantly lower clinician-rated trait scores in autistic females despite equivalent survey scores.

Cite This Study

Ishida et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7b3df0926e14a848b3179 https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.70369

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark