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Gender Differences in the Prevalence of Autistic Experiences of Interpersonal Violence: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

journal contribution
posted on 2025-04-16, 04:18 authored by K Cooke, K Ridgway, Laura PecoraLaura Pecora, Elizabeth WestruppElizabeth Westrupp, D Hedley, Merrilyn HooleyMerrilyn Hooley, Mark StokesMark Stokes
Abstract Research has identified intersectional effects of autism and gender for experiences of interpersonal violence; however, findings have been mixed and vary by violence type. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined gender differences in autistic experiences of interpersonal violence prevalence. We identified 64 studies examining physical, sexual, or psychological violence, bullying, and homicide among autistic people, varying by gender, age, and support needs. We conducted a meta-analysis over 24 studies, and found increased violence experienced by autistic cis-females (d = 0.32) and gender minorities (d = 0.73) compared to cis-males. This review suggests autistic people experience disproportionate rates of violence compared to the general population, and highlights concerningly high rates of lifetime and poly-victimization, particularly among gender-marginalized groups.

History

Journal

Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Location

London, Eng.

ISSN

2195-7177

eISSN

2195-7185

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Publisher

Springer