Adverse Childhood Experiences in Autistic and Neurotypical Girls

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to long-term negative health outcomes.
• Previous research indicates children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have a higher risk of ACEs.
• Existing studies are limited and primarily focus on male populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ACEs in female children, comparing those with ASD and typically developing (TD) peers.
• To examine the influence of diagnostic status, age, and puberty on ACEs.
• To assess the relationship between ACEs, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in girls with and without ASD.

Main Methods:

• Study included 212 female children aged 6-12 years (112 with ASD, 100 TD).
• Diagnostic assessments and the 10-item ACEs questionnaire were administered.
• Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, negative-binomial models, linear regression, and Spearman correlations.

Main Results:

• Autistic girls reported significantly more ACEs than TD girls (p=0.024).
• Depressive and anxiety symptoms were higher in girls with ASD and positively correlated with ACE total.
• No significant interactions were found between diagnosis, age, and puberty stage.

Conclusions:

• Autism spectrum disorder and ACEs may synergistically increase the risk for mental health conditions in girls.
• Early identification and targeted interventions for ACEs in autistic youth are crucial.
• Further research into tailored treatments for adverse events in autism is warranted to prevent negative health sequelae.