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Autistic Girls but Not Boys Show a Strong Association Between Internalizing Symptoms and Social Motivation
Meryssa Waite1, Rachel T Fouladi2, Grace Iarocci2
1Simon Fraser University (Psychology), Burnaby, BC, Canada. addl@sfu.ca.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|January 13, 2025
Summary
Social motivation is lower in autistic youth compared to non-autistic youth. This impacts internalizing symptoms differently based on gender and autism status, particularly for autistic girls.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Background:
- Internalizing symptoms and social motivation are key factors in youth mental health.
- Understanding these factors in autistic versus non-autistic youth, considering gender, is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between internalizing symptoms, social motivation, and gender in autistic and non-autistic youth.
- To investigate how gender and neurodivergence intersect in relation to social motivation and mental health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Caregiver-reported data from 386 participants aged 6-14 years.
- Utilized measures of internalizing symptoms and social motivation.
- Employed correlation and hierarchical regression analyses.
Main Results:
- Autistic youth exhibited lower social motivation than non-autistic youth; no significant gender differences in social motivation within groups.
- Social motivation significantly predicted internalizing symptoms.
- The link between social motivation and internalizing symptoms differed by gender and diagnostic status, with autistic girls showing a strong association.
Conclusions:
- The relationship between internalizing symptoms and social motivation is complex and influenced by the intersection of gender and neurodivergent identity.
- Findings highlight the importance of an intersectionality perspective for understanding autistic youth's social experiences and mental health.
- Interventions should consider gender-specific social experiences and expectations for autistic girls.
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