Research in autismPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-12DOI: 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202663
Samuel L Morris, Nathan A Call, Joanna Lomas Mevers, Pierce M Taylor
{"title":"A Behavioral Economic Measure of Sensitivity to Social Rewards in Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder.","authors":"Samuel L Morris, Nathan A Call, Joanna Lomas Mevers, Pierce M Taylor","doi":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202663","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It has been suggested that deviations from typical patterns of social behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may stem from a failure to experience social interactions as sufficiently rewarding (Chevallier et al., 2012). This study evaluated a behavioral economic measure of sensitivity to social rewards in 30 autistic children, 19 nonautistic children with developmental disabilities, and 19 neurotypical children between the ages of 3 and 12 years old. Participants worked for 30 s of access to social interactions with a novel adult or a leisure item in separate sessions. Each reward was delivered on a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement, in which the number of work responses required to access the reward increased across trials. Social reward was less valuable for autistic participants compared to their neurotypical peers, but differences in nonsocial reward value were not observed. No statistically significant differences in social reward value were obtained when comparing the nonautistic developmental disability group to either autism or neurotypical group. These findings suggest that differences in reward value may be unique to autism and isolated to social stimuli. Implications for future research investigating the role of social motivation in autism are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":520959,"journal":{"name":"Research in autism","volume":"127 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13521615/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148842789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Research in autismPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-12DOI: 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202658
Olivia Lindly, Candi Running Bear, Davis E Henderson, Brianna R Kirby, Vernyllia Begay, Amy Shui, Sarah Dababnah, Sandy M Magaña
{"title":"Pilot study of a strengths-based education program for Diné (Navajo) families of autistic children: Feasibility, fidelity, acceptability, and initial outcomes.","authors":"Olivia Lindly, Candi Running Bear, Davis E Henderson, Brianna R Kirby, Vernyllia Begay, Amy Shui, Sarah Dababnah, Sandy M Magaña","doi":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202658","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202658","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Culturally responsive, strengths-based parent education and training programs for Indigenous families of autistic children are needed to help optimize their health; however, few exist. Parents Taking Action, an evidence-based, parent education and training program delivered by community health workers (i.e., family advisors), was adapted for Diné (Navajo) families of autistic children ages 2 to 12 years (Diné PTA). We conducted a pilot study to examine the feasibility, fidelity, acceptability, and initial outcomes of Diné PTA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using mixed methods, program feasibility was assessed from participant enrollment and lessons completed; program fidelity was captured using a structured checklist; and initial family and child outcomes were measured with a verbally administered survey at baseline, mid-way through the program, and following program completion. The program's social validity and other aspects of its acceptability were assessed after program completion through the final survey, a virtual focus group with participants, and family advisor feedback. Paired t-tests with quantitative survey data and content analysis with qualitative data were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 13 Diné parents enrolled in the study, 10 completed all (<i>n</i> = 9) or some (<i>n</i> = 1) of the program. The program was delivered with high fidelity and had high acceptability for both participants and their family advisors. Participants demonstrated statistically significant improvements on the Family Outcomes Survey (e.g., understanding the child's strengths, needs, and abilities) between baseline and program completion.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Results suggest Diné PTA holds promise as a culturally responsive, strengths-based autism education and training program for Indigenous families.</p>","PeriodicalId":520959,"journal":{"name":"Research in autism","volume":"127 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13480392/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148805095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Research in autismPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202660
Amie Duncan, Lauren Tadevich
{"title":"The role of family quality of life in the caregivers of autistic adolescents receiving treatment for daily living skills.","authors":"Amie Duncan, Lauren Tadevich","doi":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202660","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adolescence may be a particularly challenging time for autistic teens and their caregivers. Thus, the current study sought to better understand Family Quality of Life (FQOL) in this population. Further, given the impact that daily living skills (DLS) have on the family system, the current study examined whether a DLS intervention impacted FQOL. Fifty-eight adolescents with autism and their caregivers completed the Surviving and Thriving in the Real World (STRW) intervention and caregivers reported on their FQOL using the <i>Beach Center Family Quality of Life</i> (FQOL Scale). Results revealed that caregivers who participated in the STRW intervention endorsed significant positive changes on the Family Interaction (<i>p</i> = .02) and Parenting (<i>p</i> = .03) subscales and Overall FQOL (<i>p</i> = .02) from baseline to post-treatment. Further, higher Emotional Well-Being at baseline was the only FQOL variable that was related to increased changes in DLS from baseline to post-treatment (r = .29, <i>p</i> = 03). Results suggest that completion of the STRW intervention relates to significant positive changes in FQOL. Further, results suggest that targeting aspects of FQOL, such as emotional well-being, may lead to improved treatment gains in autistic teens.</p>","PeriodicalId":520959,"journal":{"name":"Research in autism","volume":"127 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12288711/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144736657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Research in autismPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-08-21DOI: 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202688
Catherine R Callaci, Tori R Van Dyk, Holly E R Morrell, Rachel M Fenning, Cameron L Neece
{"title":"Parent stress reduction interventions and sleep problems in autistic youth.","authors":"Catherine R Callaci, Tori R Van Dyk, Holly E R Morrell, Rachel M Fenning, Cameron L Neece","doi":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202688","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202688","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sleep problems in autistic children are associated with behavioral difficulties and elevated parenting stress even after accounting for autistic symptoms and demographics. This study evaluated whether two caregiver stress-reduction interventions had collateral benefits in improving parent-reported sleep in autistic children.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants included families of autistic children aged 3-5 years (<i>N</i> = 51, 80.39 % child ethnic minority) enrolled in a larger randomized control trial examining the efficacy of two different parent stress reduction interventions: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Psychoeducation and Support (PE). Parent-reported child sleep problems were measured by the behaviorally-based subscales (bedtime resistance, sleep duration, sleep onset delay) of the <i>Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire</i> and parenting stress was measured using the <i>PSI-4 Short Form</i> Parental Distress subscale, both at baseline, post-intervention, and 6- and 12-months post intervention.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Using multilevel modeling, bedtime resistance significantly improved over time, with no significant differences between intervention groups. Sleep duration and sleep onset delay improved over time; however, these outcomes were no longer significant when the effect of the intervention group or its interaction with change over time was added to the model. Less within-individual parenting stress was associated with fewer problems with bedtime resistance and sleep duration, but not with sleep onset delay.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Improvement in parenting stress appears to correspond with improvement in aspects of children's sleep, particularly bedtime resistance. Clinicians may consider the benefits of addressing parenting stress in the context of behavioral sleep interventions for autistic youth.</p>","PeriodicalId":520959,"journal":{"name":"Research in autism","volume":"127 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13618250/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149077477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Research in autismPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-08-16DOI: 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202683
Patrick Dwyer, Andre Sillas, Clifford D Saron, Susan M Rivera
{"title":"Investigating autistic hyperfocus and monotropism: Limited convergence of event-related potentials, laboratory tasks, and questionnaire responses.","authors":"Patrick Dwyer, Andre Sillas, Clifford D Saron, Susan M Rivera","doi":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202683","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202683","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The autistic-developed monotropism account suggests autism is characterised by hyperfocus towards interests, although hyperfocus research has not explored associations among self-/caregiver-report and lab-based measures. Other findings suggest autistic attention has an enhanced capacity and/or is unusually prone to involuntary capture. This study used questionnaires and lab-based tasks to investigate autistic attention and probe its relations to inattention/distractibility, sensory experiences, and anxiety.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>18 autistic and 22 comparison adolescents completed self-report measures of hyper-focus, anxiety, and sensory experiences, and laboratory psychoacoustic tasks, visual working memory and cross-modal attention capture accuracy and reaction time tasks, and a hyperfocus paradigm relying on the N2pc and Pd event-related potentials. Participants' caregivers completed proxy hyperfocus, anxiety, sensory experiences, and inattention questionnaires.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Autistic participants had elevated hyperfocus per self- and caregiver-report questionnaires, and exhibited less visual working memory capacity, potentially reflecting difficulty attending to multiple targets. However, groups did not differ in event-related potentials indexing hyperfocus, or behavioural cross-modal attention capture. Different types of attention measures were generally not related to one another. Participants and their caregivers overall viewed hyperfocus' impact as modestly positive, with individual opinions differing. Self-reported hyperfocus was related to self-reported misophonia and sensory hyperreactivity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Questionnaires suggest hyperfocus is elevated in autism and has mixed, nuanced real-world impacts. However, some laboratory paradigms with explicit instructions in highly controlled, often non-naturalistic environments may struggle to capture real-world autistic attentional experiences; additional research is needed to align laboratory and questionnaire measures. This study also suggests autistic perceptual capacities are not globally enhanced.</p>","PeriodicalId":520959,"journal":{"name":"Research in autism","volume":"127 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13274634/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148280860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Research in autismPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-04-23DOI: 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202606
Ruth B Grossman, Amelia Rees, Julia Mertens, Emily Zane
{"title":"Impact of conversational context on gaze patterns of autistic and non-autistic adolescents.","authors":"Ruth B Grossman, Amelia Rees, Julia Mertens, Emily Zane","doi":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202606","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202606","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Few studies of social gaze by autistic individuals have focused on live interactions and those studies have been limited to conversations with a single partner. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of conversational variations in cognitive load on social gaze of autistic and non-autistic adolescents while engaging with two conversation partners.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants engaged in a conversation where two research assistants (RAs) and the participant each shared personal memories and engaged with each other through question asking and commenting. We used eye-tracking glasses to record and analyze participants' gaze in response to two questions: One question was open-ended and referenced an unusual topic (high cognitive demand), while the other question required a simple yes or no response about a common topic (low cognitive demand).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Non-autistic adolescents gazed more at the faces of either RA than their autistic peers. Both participant groups gazed more at the face of the RA who had just asked a question. Post-hoc pairwise comparisons revealed that non-autistic participants gazed significantly more at the RA asking the yes/no question than the RA asking the open-ended question condition, but autistic participants showed no such gaze difference across question type.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings indicate a pattern of interactional gaze that is influenced not only by neurotype, but also by conversational features, such as the difficulty of the question and the overall social demands of interacting with more than one person.</p>","PeriodicalId":520959,"journal":{"name":"Research in autism","volume":"125 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13505974/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148820841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Research in autismPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-05-21DOI: 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202618
Garrett Cardon, Kelsey Tindall, Don Rojas
{"title":"Behavioral and neural interrelationships of sensory difficulties, intolerance of uncertainty, and anxiety in autistic children.","authors":"Garrett Cardon, Kelsey Tindall, Don Rojas","doi":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202618","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202618","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Autistic children often experience higher levels of sensory difficulties and anxiety, compared to their non-autistic counterparts. Available evidence suggests that intolerance of uncertainty (IU) mediates the relationship between these factors. We aimed to further the examination of the interrelationship between these phenomena, as well as their underlying neural mechanisms, in children.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>30 autistic children (ages 6-11 years) and 26 age-matched neurotypical (NT) peers participated in resting-state fMRI, as well as various behavioral assessments of sensory processing, anxiety, and IU.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between-groups comparisons of behavioral scores showed higher levels of sensory processing differences, anxiety, and IU in autistic children. Mediation analysis also revealed that IU was a significant mediator between sensory difficulties and anxiety in this group. Network connectivity findings showed that connectivity between sensory cortices and cerebellar, higher order sensory, and limbic regions (esp. amygdala) were significantly correlated with sensory processing, anxiety, and IU.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We report novel behavioral and neurophysiologic findings concerning important interrelationships in autism. Our findings may be related to predictive coding accounts of autism. Our results have the potential to inform future clinical practice, in that addressing sensory and IU difficulties has the potential to lead to improvements in anxiety in autistic children.</p>","PeriodicalId":520959,"journal":{"name":"Research in autism","volume":"125 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13618440/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149077491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Research in autismPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-05-21DOI: 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202622
Christy D Yoon, Hedda Meadan, Yan Xia, Frederick Shic
{"title":"Association Between Joint Attention and Autism Traits in Young Adults: A Gaze-Contingent Eye-Tracking Study.","authors":"Christy D Yoon, Hedda Meadan, Yan Xia, Frederick Shic","doi":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202622","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Interactive Eye Tracking for Joint Attention (IET-JA), a child-focused battery consisting of video-format gaze-contingent eye-tracking tasks featuring a human communication partner, was developed to address gaps in eye-tracking research on JA in autistic children. Although JA research has often concentrated on younger populations due to its early developmental significance, studies indicate that JA difficulties associated with autism persist into adulthood, highlighting the value of examining these traits later in life. Thus, this study adapted the IET-JA for adolescents and adults (IET-JA-A) by incorporating additional attentional demands to introduce controlled attentional variations and explore whether these interactive eye-tracking measures of JA associate with autism traits in adulthood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 81 young adults (<i>M</i> <sub><i>ag</i>e</sub> = 19.32 years, range = 18-24 years), with a broad range of autism traits, completed the IET-JA-A. Generalized and linear mixed modeling were employed to address the aim.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The IET-JA-A measures of responding to joint attention and initiating joint attention to comment/reference (protodeclarative) were associated with autism traits, while the IET-JA-A measures of initiating joint attention to request (protoimperative) were not associated with autism traits.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Findings advance our understanding of JA linked with autism traits in adulthood and showcase the feasibility of interactive eye-tracking methodologies in JA research. Limitations and implications for research are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":520959,"journal":{"name":"Research in autism","volume":"125 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12366835/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144987248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Research in autismPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-04-03DOI: 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202577
Meredith Pecukonis, Prerna Shankar, Keerti Daesety, Julia Cornwall, Lauren DeBoyes, Helen Tager-Flusberg
{"title":"Comparing Shared Book Reading Practices in Autistic and Neurotypical Preschoolers.","authors":"Meredith Pecukonis, Prerna Shankar, Keerti Daesety, Julia Cornwall, Lauren DeBoyes, Helen Tager-Flusberg","doi":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202577","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202577","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>While the developmental benefits of shared book reading in neurotypical children are well-established, little is known about whether autistic and neurotypical children experience similar shared book reading practices at home, and whether these practices are associated with autistic children's language skills.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In well-matched groups of 32 autistic and neurotypical preschoolers, we compared different measures of shared book reading practices - parent-reported quantity and quality of shared book reading at home, parent-reported child engagement and enjoyment during shared book reading at home, and behaviorally observed parent language use during lab-based parent-child shared book reading interactions. In a larger sample of 47 preschoolers (22 autism, 25 neurotypical), we explored the associations between shared book reading practices and child language skills.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between groups, parents reported similar quantity and quality of shared book reading and used similar language during parent-child shared book reading interactions. Parents of autistic children reported having to work hard to keep their child engaged during shared book reading more often than parents of neurotypical children. Parents of autistic children also reported lower child enjoyment during shared book reading. Child language skills, engagement, and enjoyment were significantly correlated with quantity and quality of shared book reading in the autism group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Shared book reading may have a positive impact on autistic children's language development, although further longitudinal research is needed. Clinically, findings suggest that autistic children, especially those with lower language skills, may benefit from interventions that support child engagement and enjoyment during shared book reading.</p>","PeriodicalId":520959,"journal":{"name":"Research in autism","volume":"124 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13557146/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148922303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Research in autismPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-04-08DOI: 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202576
Amanda J Neal, Tyler C McFayden, Jessica E Goldblum, Stephanie Bristol, Clare Harrop
{"title":"Frustration in healthcare: Sex differences in parental perceptions of medical visits for autistic children.","authors":"Amanda J Neal, Tyler C McFayden, Jessica E Goldblum, Stephanie Bristol, Clare Harrop","doi":"10.1016/j.reia.2025.202576","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reia.2025.202576","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Historical conceptualization of autism as male-dominant has contributed to sex disparities in accessing diagnosis and intervention services for autistic females (McDonnell et al., 2021). These disparities can have a profound impact on parental stress and child outcomes. However, little work has evaluated sex disparities in accessing healthcare. Accordingly, this study sought to evaluate sex differences in frustration accessing healthcare for parents of autistic youth.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Utilizing the National Survey on Children's Health (NSCH) data spanning 2016-2022, this study analyzed a nationally representative sample (<i>N</i>=7,740, <i>M</i> <sub><i>age</i></sub> =10.61, 21.4% female) to determine sex differences in risk of frustration with healthcare services. Ten domains of frustration were evaluated using relative risk ratios comparing parents of autistic females to parents of autistic males. Risk ratios >1.0 indicated an increase in risk among females, whereas a risk ratio <1.0 indicated a decrease in risk for females.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to parents of autistic males, parents of autistic females were more likely to endorse frustration in 5 out of 10 domains, including feeling listened to by providers, providers spending enough time with them, feeling like a partner in their child's health-decision making, feeling like the provider was sensitive to their cultural considerations, and having been provided with relevant information.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Parents of autistic females were at an elevated risk of experiencing frustration compared to parents of autistic males. Elevated frustration experienced by parents of autistic females has implications for the continued access to healthcare for autistic females across their lifespan.</p>","PeriodicalId":520959,"journal":{"name":"Research in autism","volume":"124 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13660738/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149187772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}