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Social class and infantile autism

C Gillberg, H Schaumann

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

|September 1, 1982

Summary

This study found no evidence that autistic children come from higher social classes. Comparing autistic children in Sweden with a general population sample showed similar social class distributions.

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Area of Science:

Child Psychology
Developmental Pediatrics
Social Epidemiology

Background:

Previous theories suggested a correlation between infantile autism and higher socioeconomic status.
Understanding the social determinants of autism is crucial for early intervention and support.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the social class distribution of infantile autism.
To test the hypothesis that autistic children originate from higher social strata.

Main Methods:

A cohort of 20 children diagnosed with infantile autism in Göteborg, Sweden (born 1962-1973) was compared to a random sample of 59 children.
Social class was assessed using two distinct classification systems, one based on paternal occupation and another incorporating multiple parameters.
Demographic and social factors were analyzed for both groups.

Main Results:

The distribution of social class was nearly identical between the infantile autism group and the general population sample.
No significant differences were observed in other social circumstances between the two groups.
The findings did not support the notion of a higher social class prevalence in infantile autism.

Conclusions:

Infantile autism does not appear to be disproportionately represented in higher social classes.
Socioeconomic factors, as measured in this study, do not seem to be a distinguishing characteristic of families with autistic children.
Further research may explore other etiological factors beyond social class.

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