The Promise of Discovery Season 2, Episode 9:

VKC researchers have found that children with autism report higher rates of gender diversity — the way in which an individual experiences gender distinct from social norms for their gender assigned at birth — than their typically developing peers. The study used both self-reporting and parent-reporting measures to assess the experience of gender diversity in 244 children between ages 10 and 13. Understanding the experiences and needs of gender diverse youth is critical, as statistical comparisons in the study between groups with ASD and with typical development revealed associations between gender profiles and symptoms of anxiety, depression and suicidality.

VKC Researchers:

Blythe A. Corbett, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Psychology; Director, Division of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Interviewer: Rachael Anne Muscatello, Ph.D., postdoctoral research fellow, Dept of Psych and Behavior Sciences