Comparison of gender difference in the Chinese version of the autism spectrum rating scale

Abstract

Objective To explore the gender difference in Chinese version of autism spectrum rating scale (ASRS)-in terms of parents and teacher rating. Methods A total of 701 children (380 boys, 321 girls; 6-11 years old) were recruited from one Primary School in Minhang District of Shanghai.The parents and teachers of the children completed the ASRS.While the data were imput into the database, the software automatically calculated T-standard score according to the formula for the raw score of screening scale, treatment scale, and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Ⅳ-Turning Reversion scale.In the end, the gender differences in Chinese version of ASRS for both parents and teacher ratings were analyzed. Results A total of 671 parents rating scale were retrieved (response rate was 95.7%), involving 368 boys (54.8%); 685 for teacher rating scale (response rate was 97.7%), involving 381 boys (55.6%). No significant difference was observed in the distribution of gender(P>0.05). Minor influence of age was found among ASRS sub-scales for both parents and teacher ratings in boys and girls (parent rating scale r=-0.219 1 to -0.124 4, teacher rating scale r=-0.328 0 to -0.120 0). In parent and teacher version of ASRS, boys had higher T-standard scores in all subscales by 1-3 and 2-4 points than those in girls, respectively, and apart from abnormal behavior, adult socialization, behavioral rigidity, and sensory sensitivity there was no significant difference(all P>0.05) in parents rating scale while others had significant differences(all P<0.05), and all sub-scales had significant difference in teacher rating scale(all P<0.01). Conclusions The T-standard scores of both ASRS questionnaire has the gender differences in ASRS subscales, so it is necessary for researchers to understand the Chinese version of ASRS questionnaire from different angles. Key words: Autism spectrum disorder; Screening; Questionnaire; Child