Trial reportPloS one2014
Sexuality and gender role in autism spectrum disorder: a case control study.
Trial report in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 50 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
50 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 114 citations in OpenAlex.
- Gender Identity and Gender Dysphoria in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review.Actas espanolas de psiquiatria · 2026Pooled it
- A Systematic Review of Gender Dysphoria Measures in Autistic Samples.Archives of sexual behavior · 2024Pooled it
- Autism Spectrum Disorder and Gender Dysphoria/Incongruence. A systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2023Pooled it
- Are Autism Spectrum Disorder and Asexuality Connected?Archives of sexual behavior · 2022Pooled it
- Gender Dysphoria, Sexuality and Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Map Review.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2018Pooled it
- Sexuality in High-Functioning Autism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2016Pooled it
- Does Autogynephilia Theory Still Provide a Useful Explanatory Framework for Understanding Transfeminine Identity and Sexuality?Archives of sexual behavior · 2026Article
- The relationship between autism and gender dysphoria, and their co-occurrence with transgender identity: research conditions and implications.Postepy psychiatrii neurologii · 2026Review
- Sexual and Romantic Relationships in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Preliminary Report of an Italian Psychosexual Training Program.Archives of sexual behavior · 2026Article
- Autistic Characteristics in a Nationally Representative Clinical Sample of Adolescents Seeking Medical Gender-Affirming Treatment in Norway.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2025Article
- Borderline Personality as a Factor in Late, Missed, and Mis-Diagnosis in Autistic Girls and Women: A Conceptual Analysis.Autism in adulthood · 2024Article
- Gender-specific play behavior in relation to autistic traits and behavioral difficulties at the age of seven in the SELMA study.PloS one · 2024Article
- Sexual Knowledge, Experiences, and Pragmatic Language in Adults With and Without Autism: Implications for Sex Education.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2023Article
- Sexual Minority Identities in Autistic Adults: Diversity and Associations with Mental Health Symptoms and Subjective Quality of Life.Autism in adulthood · 2023Article
- Healthcare clinician perspectives on the intersection of autism and gender dysphoria.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2023Article
- A Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Neurodiversity and Psychosexual Functioning in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment · 2023Review
- Apparent autistic traits in transgender people: a prospective study of the impact of gender-affirming hormonal treatment.Journal of endocrinological investigation · 2022Article
- Sex and Sexuality in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Scoping Review on a Neglected but Fundamental Issue.Brain sciences · 2022Article
- Implicit and Explicit Gender-Related Cognition, Gender Dysphoria, Autistic-Like Traits, and Mentalizing: Differences Between Autistic and Non-Autistic Cisgender and Transgender Adults.Archives of sexual behavior · 2022Article
- The Operationalisation of Sex and Gender in Quantitative Health-Related Research: A Scoping Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The 'extreme male brain theory of autism' describes an extreme male pattern of cognitive traits defined as strong systemising abilities paired with empathising weaknesses in autism spectrum disorder. However, beyond these cognitive traits, clinical observations have suggested an ambiguous gender-typed pattern regarding several sexually dimorphic traits. The aim of the present study was to investigate if patterns of non-cognitive sexually dimorphic traits differed between the autism spectrum disorder and control groups. Fifty adults with autism spectrum disorder and intelligence within the normal range, and 53 neurotypical controls responded to questions on gender role, self-perceived gender typicality and gender identity, as well as sexuality. Measures used were a Swedish modification of the Bem Sex Role Inventory and questions on sexuality and gender designed for the purpose of this study. Our results showed that one common gender role emerged in the autism spectrum disorder group. Masculinity (e.g. assertiveness, leadership and competitiveness) was weaker in the autism spectrum disorder group than in the controls, across men and women. Self-perceived gender typicality did not differ between the groups but tomboyism and bisexuality were overrepresented amongst women with autism spectrum disorder. Lower libido was reported amongst both male and female participants with autism spectrum disorder compared with controls. We conclude that the extreme male patterns of cognitive functions in the autistic brain do not seem to extend to gender role and sexuality. A gender-atypical pattern for these types of characteristics is suggested in autism spectrum disorder.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.