Biopsychosocial Explanations for Gender Disparities in Autism

Recent research is suggesting that females with autism may need their own set of diagnostic parameters. In this Psychiatric Times article, Mindpath Health’s Taish Malone, PhD, LPC, discusses how this will impact how females and males are treated.

Gender disparities have long been considered when addressing how the brain functions, namely with information processing and behavior. Although research on autism has mostly centered around men, more recent research has found that separate parameters are needed to assess distinctive diagnostic markers in female individuals with autism due to significant findings in biopsychosocial presentation differences.

Slowly but surely, scholars in the field of both neuroscience and psychology are offering insight as to how sex differences arise in those who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Gockley et al suggested that females are genetically protected from developing autism, alleging that this stems as a result of unique gene expression associated with the X-chromosome.

This correlation might explain the 4:1 male-female diagnosis discrepancy. However, Kaat et al suggested an equally significant factor was the propensity for doctors to look for autism in male patients as opposed to female patients. A recent Yale study, found that females appeared to be more resilient against developing autism, explained in part through brain mapping.

Biological factors

Biological findings during brain mapping uncovered brain structural distinctions. More specifically, findings have concluded that the posterior superior temporal sulcus is an area of the male brain with decreased receptiveness, especially in those diagnosed with autism.

The area affected in males is associated with “analyzing the intentions underlying actions and is sensitive to the context within which actions occur.” Meanwhile, the striatum is involved in the brains of females with autism; it is involved in social system interaction, coordinated movements, and reward or gain.

Social factors

As in biological factors, there are biases led by social male-dominated measures and philosophies in assessing autism, which further explains delineations. Characteristically, females with autism are reported as being less obvious candidates for a diagnosis, partly due to societal expectations.

In addition to societal biases, females are more apt at developing adaptable skills to disguise their different way of processing their social environment.

As a clinician, I have found that females diagnosed with autism are more aware of their differences and have a desire to be more socially acceptable which is supported by research that speaks of “masking” or “camouflaging” associated with females with autism.

Psychological factors

This repression of self can be both beneficial and detrimental to females with autism. On one hand, the patient is more likely to be socially acceptable, appearing to fit within norms. On the other, she is more likely to evade diagnosis which can be detrimental in the long run. Females commonly repress their emotions yet are also prone to being more emotionally reactive than males of the same age.

The propensity for females with autism to internally experience frequent and intense emotional arousal characteristic of reactivity while adversely restraining this natural inclination is what creates the inner conflict that represents itself in their comorbidity with emotional and personality symptoms and even disorders.

Patel and Patel explain that repressed emotions manifest themselves as mental exhaustion, pervasive sadness, detachment from others, minimizing needs and wants in many interactions to avoid conflict or rejection, and often trouble with effective communication and maintaining healthy relationships.

Interestingly, females with autism reportedly have higher rates of anxiety and depression, which could be due to many of these symptoms. The complications with social skills, attachment, and emotional intelligence when communicating associated with autism in males still pose a challenge for females, but they might not be easily identified as a problem due to their believable masked personas and therefore can leave females with autism to go for years without being diagnosed.

Read the full Psychiatric Times article with sources.