Gender diversity in autistic and neurotypical youth over adolescence and puberty: A longitudinal study / Rachael A. MUSCATELLO ; Melissa CYPERSKI ; Eleonora SADIKOVA ; E. Kale EDMISTON ; Trey William MCGONIGLE ; Rachel CALVOSA ; Simon VANDEKAR in Autism Research, 17-7 (July 2024)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism Research > 17-7 (July 2024) . - p.1450-1463 Titre : Gender diversity in autistic and neurotypical youth over adolescence and puberty: A longitudinal study Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Rachael A. MUSCATELLO, Auteur ; Melissa CYPERSKI, Auteur ; Eleonora SADIKOVA, Auteur ; E. Kale EDMISTON, Auteur ; Trey William MCGONIGLE, Auteur ; Rachel CALVOSA, Auteur ; Simon VANDEKAR, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.1450-1463 Langues : Anglais (eng) Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Abstract Recent research in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has suggested a higher prevalence of gender diversity in individuals diagnosed with ASD. Adolescence is a critical period for the consolidation of gender identity, yet the extent to which the experience of gender diversity is stable over adolescence and puberty in autistic youth is poorly understood. The aim of the study was to examine the consistency of gender diversity using the gender diversity screening questionnaire for self- and parent-report of youth (GDSQ-S, GDSQ-P) over a four-year longitudinal study of pubertal development in youth with ASD (N = 140, 36 assigned-female-at birth (AFAB)) and typical development (TD, N = 104, 58 assigned-male-at-birth [AMAB]) and their parents. The extent to which diagnosis (ASD vs. TD), assigned sex (AFAB vs. AMAB) and developmental level (age, puberty) predict GDSQ trajectory over time was explored. There was a significant diagnosis by sex-assigned-at-birth by age interaction for GDSQ-S Gender Diversity, p = 0.002, showing higher scores in autistic AFAB youth over adolescence, and TD AFAB showing initially lower, then increasing levels over adolescence. For GDSQ-P, Gender Incongruence was significantly different between the groups, p = 0.032, showing higher incongruence for autistic AFAB around age 10, decreasing between age 12-14 before increasing again, while TD AFAB evidence the inverse trend. AMAB trends were stable. The significant diagnostic, developmental and sex-based differences indicate AFAB youth experience greater gender diversity that evolves over development. Findings suggest gender identity formation is nuanced and may be influenced by pubertal progression, hormonal patterns, and psychosocial factors. Results underscore the need for enhanced understanding of the unique, dynamic profiles of females-assigned-at-birth. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3141 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=533 [article] Gender diversity in autistic and neurotypical youth over adolescence and puberty: A longitudinal study [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Rachael A. MUSCATELLO, Auteur ; Melissa CYPERSKI, Auteur ; Eleonora SADIKOVA, Auteur ; E. Kale EDMISTON, Auteur ; Trey William MCGONIGLE, Auteur ; Rachel CALVOSA, Auteur ; Simon VANDEKAR, Auteur . - p.1450-1463. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism Research > 17-7 (July 2024) . - p.1450-1463 Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Abstract Recent research in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has suggested a higher prevalence of gender diversity in individuals diagnosed with ASD. Adolescence is a critical period for the consolidation of gender identity, yet the extent to which the experience of gender diversity is stable over adolescence and puberty in autistic youth is poorly understood. The aim of the study was to examine the consistency of gender diversity using the gender diversity screening questionnaire for self- and parent-report of youth (GDSQ-S, GDSQ-P) over a four-year longitudinal study of pubertal development in youth with ASD (N = 140, 36 assigned-female-at birth (AFAB)) and typical development (TD, N = 104, 58 assigned-male-at-birth [AMAB]) and their parents. The extent to which diagnosis (ASD vs. TD), assigned sex (AFAB vs. AMAB) and developmental level (age, puberty) predict GDSQ trajectory over time was explored. There was a significant diagnosis by sex-assigned-at-birth by age interaction for GDSQ-S Gender Diversity, p = 0.002, showing higher scores in autistic AFAB youth over adolescence, and TD AFAB showing initially lower, then increasing levels over adolescence. For GDSQ-P, Gender Incongruence was significantly different between the groups, p = 0.032, showing higher incongruence for autistic AFAB around age 10, decreasing between age 12-14 before increasing again, while TD AFAB evidence the inverse trend. AMAB trends were stable. The significant diagnostic, developmental and sex-based differences indicate AFAB youth experience greater gender diversity that evolves over development. Findings suggest gender identity formation is nuanced and may be influenced by pubertal progression, hormonal patterns, and psychosocial factors. Results underscore the need for enhanced understanding of the unique, dynamic profiles of females-assigned-at-birth. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3141 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=533

The intersection and developmental trajectory of morning cortisol and testosterone in autistic and neurotypical youth / Trey MCGONIGLE ; Rachael A MUSCATELLO ; Simon VANDEKAR ; Rachel CALVOSA in Molecular Autism, 16 (2025)  

Public ISBD [article]  inMolecular Autism > 16 (2025) . - 27 Titre : The intersection and developmental trajectory of morning cortisol and testosterone in autistic and neurotypical youth Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Trey MCGONIGLE, Auteur ; Rachael A MUSCATELLO, Auteur ; Simon VANDEKAR, Auteur ; Rachel CALVOSA, Auteur Article en page(s) : 27 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Humans  Testosterone/metabolism  Female  Male  Hydrocortisone/metabolism  Adolescent  Child  Saliva/metabolism/chemistry  Longitudinal Studies  Autism Spectrum Disorder/metabolism  Autistic Disorder/metabolism  Autism  Cortisol  HPA axis  Hpg  Hormones  Puberty  Testosterone  carried out in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the World Medical  Association (Declaration of Helsinki). The Vanderbilt Institutional Review Board  approved the study. Prior to inclusion in the study, informed written consent and  assent were obtained from all parents and study participants, respectively.  Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare  no competing interests. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Behavioral endocrinology examines associations between hormone expression, such as testosterone and cortisol, and behavior; both of which have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The overarching aim of the study was to examine the intersection of sex-based (Male, Female), hormonal (testosterone, cortisol), diagnostic (ASD, typically developing, (TD)) and developmental (age, puberty) patterns over four years of a longitudinal study in a well-characterized sample of youth (spanning 10 to 17 years). METHODS: In year 1 (Y1), participants included 140 autistic youth (36 females, 104 males) and 105 TD youth (46 females, 59 males.). For Y4, participants included 83 ASD and 77 TD youth. Immediate waking morning salivary samples were collected for hormone assay. Mixed effects and ordinary linear regression models were used, as well as mediation effects of hormones on behavior. RESULTS: For cortisol, there was a significant diagnosis by sex by age interaction (X(2) = 15.62, df = 3, p = 0.0014, S = 0.2446) showing that autistic females evidence higher morning cortisol that increased over developmental progression compared to TD females. Moreover, ASD males had stunted testosterone growth compared to TD males (Est = 0.1530, p = 0.0130). Regarding biobehavioral associations in year 1, diagnosis (X(2) = 80.72, df = 1, p < 0.0001, S = 0.5704) and cortisol (X(2) = 14.42, df = 3, p = 0.0024, S = 0.2159) were associated with social problems; however, there were no effects for testosterone on diagnosis or a mediation effect on social problems. There was a significant effect of diagnosis on CBCL Aggression score (X(2) = 34.39, df = 1, p < 0.0001, S = 0.3692) independent of hormonal measurements. LIMITATIONS: Despite the large sample, it was not fully representative based on race, ethnicity or intellectual profile. Attrition of the sample is also acknowledged especially between portions of Y2 and Y3 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, only the immediate morning salivary samples were used due to lower and undetectable concentration levels of testosterone in younger and female children. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings underscore the need to elucidate the biobehavioral patterns that emerge during the complex adolescent transition for autistic youth to determine how they impact clinical and long-term outcomes. The unique hormonal trajectories may be related to differences in advanced pubertal progression and affective states found in autistic females. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-025-00658-0 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=555 [article] The intersection and developmental trajectory of morning cortisol and testosterone in autistic and neurotypical youth [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Trey MCGONIGLE, Auteur ; Rachael A MUSCATELLO, Auteur ; Simon VANDEKAR, Auteur ; Rachel CALVOSA, Auteur . - 27. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Molecular Autism > 16 (2025) . - 27 Mots-clés : Humans  Testosterone/metabolism  Female  Male  Hydrocortisone/metabolism  Adolescent  Child  Saliva/metabolism/chemistry  Longitudinal Studies  Autism Spectrum Disorder/metabolism  Autistic Disorder/metabolism  Autism  Cortisol  HPA axis  Hpg  Hormones  Puberty  Testosterone  carried out in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the World Medical  Association (Declaration of Helsinki). The Vanderbilt Institutional Review Board  approved the study. Prior to inclusion in the study, informed written consent and  assent were obtained from all parents and study participants, respectively.  Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare  no competing interests. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Behavioral endocrinology examines associations between hormone expression, such as testosterone and cortisol, and behavior; both of which have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The overarching aim of the study was to examine the intersection of sex-based (Male, Female), hormonal (testosterone, cortisol), diagnostic (ASD, typically developing, (TD)) and developmental (age, puberty) patterns over four years of a longitudinal study in a well-characterized sample of youth (spanning 10 to 17 years). METHODS: In year 1 (Y1), participants included 140 autistic youth (36 females, 104 males) and 105 TD youth (46 females, 59 males.). For Y4, participants included 83 ASD and 77 TD youth. Immediate waking morning salivary samples were collected for hormone assay. Mixed effects and ordinary linear regression models were used, as well as mediation effects of hormones on behavior. RESULTS: For cortisol, there was a significant diagnosis by sex by age interaction (X(2) = 15.62, df = 3, p = 0.0014, S = 0.2446) showing that autistic females evidence higher morning cortisol that increased over developmental progression compared to TD females. Moreover, ASD males had stunted testosterone growth compared to TD males (Est = 0.1530, p = 0.0130). Regarding biobehavioral associations in year 1, diagnosis (X(2) = 80.72, df = 1, p < 0.0001, S = 0.5704) and cortisol (X(2) = 14.42, df = 3, p = 0.0024, S = 0.2159) were associated with social problems; however, there were no effects for testosterone on diagnosis or a mediation effect on social problems. There was a significant effect of diagnosis on CBCL Aggression score (X(2) = 34.39, df = 1, p < 0.0001, S = 0.3692) independent of hormonal measurements. LIMITATIONS: Despite the large sample, it was not fully representative based on race, ethnicity or intellectual profile. Attrition of the sample is also acknowledged especially between portions of Y2 and Y3 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, only the immediate morning salivary samples were used due to lower and undetectable concentration levels of testosterone in younger and female children. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings underscore the need to elucidate the biobehavioral patterns that emerge during the complex adolescent transition for autistic youth to determine how they impact clinical and long-term outcomes. The unique hormonal trajectories may be related to differences in advanced pubertal progression and affective states found in autistic females. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-025-00658-0 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=555

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