title: Sex Differences in Internalizing Problems During Adolescence in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: We hypothesized that the double hit conferred by sex and diagnosis increases the risk for internalizing disorders in adolescent females with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In a sample of 32 adolescents with ASD and 32 controls, we examined the effects of sex, diagnostic factors, and developmental stages on depression and anxiety. A 3-way interaction revealed that females with ASD exhibited greater depressive symptoms than males with ASD and female controls particularly during early adolescence; therefore, females with ASD might have a unique combination of genetic, hormonal, and psychosocial vulnerabilities that heighten their risk for depression during early adolescence. Additionally, the ASD group reported high levels of separation anxiety and panic in late adolescence, possibly indicating atypical development of independence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA. tmoswald@ucdavis.edu.|Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, U.C. Davis Medical Center, M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA. tmoswald@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Tasha M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Oswald
authors.affiliation: College of Education, 1215 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1215, USA.|Department of Psychology, Northwest Christian University, 828 E 11th Ave, Eugene, OR, 97401, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Winter-Messiers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.|Oregon Social Learning Center, 10 Shelton McMurphey Blvd, Eugene, OR, 97401, USA.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.|School of Professional Psychology, Pacific University, 190 SE 8th Ave, Hillsboro, OR, 97123, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: College of Education, 1215 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1215, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, U.C. Davis Medical Center, M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D046468:Sexual Development
keywords: Adolescence; Anxiety; Autism; Depression; Sex differences