Social Camouflaging in Autistic and Neurotypical Adolescents: A Pilot Study of Differences by Sex and Diagnosis

Abstract

Camouflaging is a process through which individuals mask autistic traits. Studies suggest autistic females may camouflage more than autistic males. However, research has focused on adults and includes few comparisons between autistic and neurotypical individuals. This study compared levels of camouflaging by sex and diagnosis in autistic and neurotypical adolescents. Females reported higher overall levels of camouflaging when not accounting for age. When accounting for age, an age by diagnosis interaction effect emerged. This possible effect of age on camouflaging has implications for understanding how camouflaging behaviors develop and warrants further exploration. Differences also emerged on behaviors labeled as masking and assimilation, subcomponents of camouflaging, with females appearing more similar to their neurotypical peers on behaviors related to social awareness.

Keywords: ASD; Autism; Camouflaging; Compensation; Sex differences.