Suominen, Elna;
(2024)
Sex differences in the internalising problem trajectories of autistic and non-autistic children across childhood and adolescence.
Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
Background: In non-autistic children and young people (CYP), sex differences in trajectories of internalising problems are well documented. For autistic children, the developmental effects of sex on internalising are less understood. The present study investigated whether autistic and non-autistic children differ in their trajectories of internalising problems, and whether these trajectories differ based on sex. Methods: Participants included autistic and non-autistic CYP from a large population-based UK birth cohort (The Millennium Cohort Study). Internalising symptoms were measured by parent-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at six timepoints across the ages of three to seventeen. Latent Growth Curve models were used to model the trajectories of internalising problems, in four groups: autistic males, autistic females and non-autistic males and non-autistic females, while controlling for SES, ethnicity, ADHD diagnosis, IQ and perinatal risk factors. Results: Autistic males (N=433) displayed higher internalizing levels at age five (model estimated mean difference = 0.53, 95% CI [.14, .91]), but autistic females (N=132) surpassed them by age nine (model estimated mean difference = -0.69, 95% CI [-1.20, -.18]. After controlling for SES, ethnicity, ADHD diagnosis, IQ and perinatal risk factors, the mean differences between autistic males and females remained but became non-significant. possibly reflecting issues with power. Main effects of autism (ßintercept=0.81, p<0.001; ß linear= 0.45, p<0.001) and sex ((ß intercept=- 0.06, p=0.007; ß linear= 0.16, p<0.001) were found on the starting level and growth in internalising problems. Conclusions: There are sex and autism specific trajectories in internalising problems for CYP. This implies the importance of developing of effective and timely interventions, particularly for adolescent autistic females, who appear most at risk.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | D.Clin.Psy |
| Title: | Sex differences in the internalising problem trajectories of autistic and non-autistic children across childhood and adolescence |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2024. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10197269 |
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