Journal Of Autism Research Articles

Mapping the global research on feeding and eating disorders and autism spectrum disorder (2014–2023): A bibliometric and network analysis

ObjectiveThis study maps the global research landscape on feeding and eating disorders (FEDs) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). MethodWe used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), bibliometrics, and network analyses to assess 199 peer-reviewed articles from the Web of Science Core Collection, published between 2014 and 2023. ResultsThe results show an annual publication increase, especially in the last three years. The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and the European Eating Disorders Review were the main publishers. Anorexia Nervosa, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, food selectivity, mealtime behaviors, parents, children, and females are among the most cited keywords. The main Research Areas were Psychology and Psychiatry, and Pediatrics and Psychology were the most central nodes of the network. The United Kingdom and the United States of America lead in publications and are the most central nodes in the network. King’s College London (KCL) and South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust lead the ranking of organizations, with KCL as the most central node in the network. ConclusionsOur study indicates a growing interest in research related to FEDs and ASD. The global landscape of research produced over the last ten years offers insights for future studies and interinstitutional collaborations.

Camouflage in autism: a bibliometric perspective

Purpose In response to the challenges posed by the social environment, numerous individuals with autism use coping strategies, engaging in a phenomenon known as “camouflaging” to mask their distinctive traits. Despite the growing attention directed toward this area of study, to date, there are no bibliometric studies delineating the evolution of this research theme. This study aims to analyze scientific research on camouflage and the autistic spectrum published in Web of Science (WoS). Design/methodology/approach Articles on camouflage and autism were retrieved from the WoS. The advanced search interface used was “Title, Abstract, Keywords (autistic OR asperger syndrome OR Autism OR ASD AND camouflage OR camouflaging AND Masking).” The analysis and visualization of the selected records and their data were carried out using MS Excel (v16.0) and Biblioshiny (v2.0, R package). Findings Following the selection process, a total of 70 articles were included. Notably, the UK emerged as the leading contributor in terms of the number of published articles. Prominent authors in this domain included William Mandy, Laura Hull and Meng-Chuan Lai, who exhibited the highest number of published articles and citations. The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders stood out as the most prolific journal. Predominant research themes encompassed camouflage (and its synonyms, masking or compensation), gender differences and mental health. Originality/value This study contributes to existing knowledge on this topic, as well as identifying new areas of research related to autism and camouflage. Moreover, it serves as a valuable resource for health-care professionals, including physicians and clinical psychologists, who may seek to augment their understanding and proficiency in the field.

Re-Evaluating the Appropriateness of the "Don't Know" Response Option: Guessing Rate as a Source of Systematic Error on Autism Knowledge Assessments.

Several autism knowledge assessments include "don't know" as a response option. The inclusion of this response option may lead to systematic error, such that participants' guessing rate affects the measurement of their autism knowledge. This study examines both predictors of guessing rate for autism knowledge and predictors of autism knowledge, including guessing rate. School-based professionals (n = 396) completed the Autism Spectrum Knowledge Scale Professional Version-Revised (ASKSP-R; McClain et al, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 50(3):998-1006, 2020). and the Autism Stigma and Knowledge Questionnaire (ASK-Q; Harrison et al, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 47(10):3281-3295, 2017). Both assessments include "don't know" as a response option. Guessing rate was the strongest predictor of autism knowledge across both the ASKSP-R and the ASK-Q assessments. For the ASKSP-R, participants who were school psychologists, practicing for more years, had more autism-related clinical experiences, and who personally knew an autistic person had a higher guessing rate. School psychologists and participants who worked with more autistic students scored higher in autism knowledge. For the ASK-Q, participants with greater self-perceived autism knowledge had a higher guessing rate. Participants with a doctorate degree, who personally knew an autistic person, and who worked with more autistic students scored higher in autism knowledge. Guessing rate can be a source of systematic error on autism knowledge assessments. Potential solutions to correct for guessing rate are examined and recommended for future use.

ADOS-2 Module 4: Psychometric Properties and Diagnostic Performance at an Autism-specialized Clinic.

Psychometric properties and diagnostic performance of the ADOS-2 module 4 were evaluated with participants from an autism-specialized clinic. The sample had 331 participants with 226 males and 70 females receiving an ASD diagnosis. The evaluation consisted of the following: (1) A replication of the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) reported by Hus, V., & Lord, C. (2014). The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Module 4: Revised Algorithm and Standardized Severity Scores. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(8), 1996-2012. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803014-2080-3 .). (2) Identification of ADOS-2 items best predicting clinical diagnosis using Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) and comparison of these items to previous findings. (3) Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses of the effects of age and IQ on diagnostic performance. (4) Comparisons of ADOS-2 revised algorithm scores between females and males and their association with ADI-R scores. The EFA item-to-factor allocation of the ADOS-2 revised algorithm was largely reproduced. When comparing the present RFE to previous RFE findings, the item Quality of Social Responses stood out. ROC curve analysis showed outstanding diagnostic performance for adults with IQ above 70 but for females, ADOS-2 revised algorithm scores were lowered, and, contrary to males, did not correlate with ADI-R scores. Reproducing the item-to-factor allocation and finding outstanding agreement with the diagnostic decision for adults with IQ > 70 showcase the strength of the ADOS-2 revised algorithm. Furthermore, by incorporating, into future revisions, the finding of inter-clinic importance of the item Quality of Social Responses, performance might be further enhanced. Lastly, though, that female scores were lowered and did not correlate with ADI-R indicate a weakness in the ADOS-2 when applied to the adult female population.

Unpacking the prevalence: A warning against overstating the recently narrowed gap for Black autistic youth.

Recent findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network's 2020 prevalence report indicate that disparities in autism diagnoses between Black and White youth have narrowed, reflecting improved screening, awareness, and access to services (Maenner et al., 2023. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries (Washington, D.C.: 2002), 72, 1-14.). Claims of reducing disparities beyond prevalence rates, however, are not fully supported, as indicated by the reality that Black youth whose screenings indicate autistic traits are still not being referred for full evaluation or early intervention services at the same rate as their White peers (Major et al., 2020. Autism, 24, 1629-1638; Smith et al., 2020. Pediatrics, 145, S35-S46.). Black 8-year-olds identified as autistic still experience disparate educational placements (Waitoller et al., 2010. The Journal of Special Education. 44, 29-49.) where services may not be autism-specific or have Individual Education Plan goals only focused on "behavior problems" (Severini et al., 2018. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48, 3261-3272.), are served in the most restrictive environments (Skiba et al., 2006. Exceptional Children, 72, 411-424.) and lack consistent augmentative and alternative communication support (Pope et al., 2022. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 31, 2159-2174.). Additionally, ADMM researchers report consistent disparities in the identification of co-occurring intellectual disability where Black autistic children have significantly more co-occurrences than White autistic children. The purpose of this commentary is to first examine the assertion that the narrowed gap indicates, "…improved…access to services among historically underserved groups," (p. 9) (Maenner et al., 2023. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries (Washington, D.C.: 2002), 72, 1-14.). We will then recommend strategies to address the ongoing disparities.

Use of Animal-Assisted Interventions and Children's Field: A Bibliometric Analysis

Aim This study aimed to present a world panorama of published articles on animal-assisted interventions in children and to highlight the characteristics of studies on animal-assisted interventions in children. Method In this study, a bibliometric analysis of the studies was conducted to analyze the trends of publications in the fields of "Animal Assisted Interventions" and "Child". The articles analyzed in this study were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS) database with search keywords. Inclusion criteria included English-language articles in journals published in the Science Citation Index Expanded or Social Science Citation Index. Results It has been determined that the trends of research on "Animal Assisted Interventions" and "Child" increased between 2020-2023. It has been determined that 80% of the research on "Animal Assisted Interventions" consists of research articles. It was determined that the most cited article (n=213) in studies related to "Animal Assisted Interventions" and "Child" was "Animal Assisted Intervention for Autism Spectrum disorder A Systematic Literature Review" and was published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Conclusions The results of this bibliometric analysis showed that there has been a growing interest in the topic of animal-assisted interventions in the children's field over the last 10 years. This study thought that the results of this study would contribute to the evaluation of the status of studies on animal-assisted intervention and guide future research in this field.

Shifting Paradigms

Shifting Paradigms

Environmental Factors Related to Quality of Life of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder : A Scoping Review

Introduction: Concerns about the quality of life (QoL) of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder have been raised by previous study. Policy decision-makers and healthcare professionals can be better informed about the environmental factors associated with parental QoL, which will enhance outcomes for both parents and children. The objective of this review is to perform a comprehensive review that assessed the environmental relevant factors associated with quality of life (QoL) of parents of ASD children (under 18 years old). Methodology: To identify the environmental factors associated with parental QoL, a scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley original and enhanced framework. Three electronic data bases (PubMed, Scopus & WOS) and reference list checks were used in the search. Results: Social support, family support, residential condition and access to services were all factors linked to parental quality of life in this group. Conclusion: The review clarified environmental factors as one of variables that have association with parental QoL. The results of this analysis also highlighted potential areas of support that have implications on future policy and practices. Keywords : environmental factors, autism spectrum disorder, quality of life, parents, children References CDC. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders--Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 14 sites, United States, 2008. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2012;61(3):1-19. CDC. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years - autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2010. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2014;63(2):1-21. Elsabbagh M, Divan G, Koh Y-J, Kim YS, Kauchali S, Marcín C, et al. Global Prevalence of Autism and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Autism Research. 2012;5(3):160-79. McTiernan A, Leader G, Healy O, Mannion A. Analysis of risk factors and early predictors of challenging behavior for children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 2011;5(3):1215-22. Simonoff E, Pickles A, Charman T, Chandler S, Loucas T, Baird G. Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence, comorbidity, and associated factors in a population-derived sample. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008;47(8):921-9. Bolton PF. Medical conditions in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. 2009;1(2):102-13. Khanna R, Madhavan SS, Smith MJ, Patrick JH, Tworek C, Becker-Cottrill B. Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Primary Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2011;41(9):1214-27.

A Systematic and Quality Review of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Interventions that use Core Vocabulary

AbstractCore vocabulary is defined as “lexical items that are accepted as being central and indispensable to language use” (Bell, 2012, p. 1). Use of core vocabulary is common amongst professionals who teach augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to individuals with disabilities. Although the use of AAC is often classified as an evidence-based practice (EBP) (Steinbrenner et al., 2020; Wong et al., Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(7), 1951–1966, 2015) an analysis of the relevant intervention procedures as well as the vocabulary used is often missing from syntheses of the literature. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to determine the quality and strength of the evidence for AAC interventions that use core vocabulary. A systematic database search and a subsequent screening process resulted in a total of 10 peer-reviewed studies that involved an AAC intervention that used core vocabulary. Each study’s outcomes were then categorized as positive, mixed, or negative and a quality review was performed using the Council for Exceptional Children’s (CEC) standards for evidence-based practices (Cook et al., Teaching Exceptional Children, 46(6), 206-212, 2015a; Remedial and Special Education, 36, 220-234, 2015b). Overall, the results suggest a lack of strong evidence in favor of AAC interventions that use core vocabulary. The results are discussed in the context of general suggestions for vocabulary selection and teaching practices for AAC systems.

Global trends and hotspots in the digital therapeutics of autism spectrum disorders: a bibliometric analysis from 2002 to 2022.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that has become a major cause of disability in children. Digital therapeutics (DTx) delivers evidence-based therapeutic interventions to patients that are driven by software to prevent, manage, or treat a medical disorder or disease. This study objectively analyzed the current research status of global DTx in ASD from 2002 to 2022, aiming to explore the current global research status and trends in the field. The Web of Science database was searched for articles about DTx in ASD from January 2002 to October 2022. CiteSpace was used to analyze the co-occurrence of keywords in literature, partnerships between authors, institutions, and countries, the sudden occurrence of keywords, clustering of keywords over time, and analysis of references, cited authors, and cited journals. A total of 509 articles were included. The most productive country and institution were the United States and Vanderbilt University. The largest contributing authors were Warren, Zachary, and Sarkar, Nilanjan. The most-cited journal was the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. The most-cited and co-cited articles were Brian Scarselati (Robots for Use in Autism Research, 2012) and Ralph Adolphs (Abnormal processing of social information from faces in autism, 2001). "Artificial Intelligence," "machine learning," "Virtual Reality," and "eye tracking" were common new and cutting-edge trends in research on DTx in ASD. The use of DTx in ASD is developing rapidly and gaining the attention of researchers worldwide. The publications in this field have increased year by year, mainly concentrated in the developed countries, especially in the United States. Both Vanderbilt University and Yale University are very important institutions in the field. The researcher from Vanderbilt University, Warren and Zachary, his dynamics or achievements in the field is also more worth our attention. The application of new technologies such as virtual reality, machine learning, and eye-tracking in this field has driven the development of DTx on ASD and is currently a popular research topic. More cross-regional and cross-disciplinary collaborations are recommended to advance the development and availability of DTx.

A bibliometric analysis of global research status and trends in neuromodulation techniques in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease which has risen to become the main cause of childhood disability, placing a heavy burden on families and society. To date, the treatment of patients with ASD remains a complicated problem, for which neuromodulation techniques are a promising solution. This study analyzed the global research situation of neuromodulation techniques in the treatment of ASD from 1992 to 2022, aiming to explore the global research status and frontier trends in this field.MethodsThe Web of Science (WoS) was searched for literature related to neuromodulation techniques for ASD from 1992 to October 2022. A knowledge atlas to analyze collaboration among countries, institutions, authors, publishing journals, reference co-citation patterns, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering, and burst keywords was constructed using Rstudio software, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer.ResultsIn total, 392 publications related to the treatment of ASD using neuromodulation techniques were included. Despite some fluctuations, the number of publications in this field has shown a growing trend in recent years. The United States and Deakin University are the leading country and institution in this field, respectively. The greatest contributing authors are Peter G Enticott, Manuel F Casanova, and Paul B Fitzgerald et al. The most prolific and cited journal is Brain Stimulation and the most commonly co-cited journal is The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. The most frequently cited article was that of Simone Rossi (Safety, ethical considerations, and application guidelines for the use of transverse magnetic stimulation in clinical practice and research, 2009). “Obsessive–compulsive disorder,” “transcranial direct current stimulation,” “working memory,” “double blind” and “adolescent” were identified as hotspots and frontier trends of neuromodulation techniques in the treatment of ASD.ConclusionThe application of neuromodulation techniques for ASD has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide. Restoring the social ability and improving the comorbid symptoms in autistic children and adults have always been the focus of research. Neuromodulation techniques have demonstrated significant advantages and effects on these issues. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are new therapeutic methods introduced in recent years, and are also directions for further exploration.

Use of Methylphenidate to Improve Cognition in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

IntroductionMethylphenidate (MPH) is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and has shown unique benefits in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In addition to improving attention, hyperactivity, and repetitive movement, it also improves cognition in ASD. Our focus is to explore the understudied benefits and safety of methylphenidate use for cognition in ASD children.Objectives1) To study the response and benefit of methylphenidate in autistic kids to improve cognition and life function.2) To assess the safety profile and risks of using methylphenidate at different doses in children with autism as a guiding tool for prescribing physicians.MethodsA literature search was conducted using relevant medical subject headings (MeSH) terms in PubMed, Medline, and PubMed Central. We identified all published articles from inception until September 30, 2022. Initial search results found 41 studies, of which 15 were excluded as they did not meet inclusion and exclusion criteria. After a thorough full-text review, we included 5 studies in our final qualitative synthesis review.ResultsMethylphenidate was found to have the unique benefit of increasing cognitive processing speed, thus improving everyday life function in ASD and ADHD children compared with only ADHD, with a clinical significance of p<0.001. Stimulants may improve the processing of social situations and interactions or social functions due to this unique response (Peled, J et al. Nordic journal of psychiatry 2020; 74(3), 163–167) A clinically significant performance gain on cognitive tasks was identified with a linear dose-response at three different doses (10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg) of methylphenidate. ASD children with ADHD made significantly fewer omission errors, [F(3,69) = 7.21, p < 0.001], and commission errors [F(3,69) = 4.64, p = 0.005] on MPH, compared to placebo. They also showed more response at higher MPH doses, [F(3,69) = 10.45, p < 0.001]. Thus, the children were faster, more accurate, and had fewer errors at higher MPH doses (Pearson, D. A. et al. Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology 2020; 30(7), 414–426). There were no serious side effects or suicidality reported for low dose and a medium dose of MPH in ASD children assessed with Response Impressions and Side Effects Checklist-Kids (RISC-K), A 38-item parent rating scale (Kim, S. J. et al. Journal of autism and developmental disorders 2017; 47(8), 2307–2313).ConclusionsThe findings support the positive response of methylphenidate on cognitive function in ASD children. No serious adverse effects or suicidality were noted. Multi-center well-designed studies are recommended to determine further efficacy and safety of MPH in ASD children for cognition.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Trends in Autism Spectrum-Related Motherhood Research: A Bibliometric Study

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties in socialization. The amount of scientific research results on motherhood related to ASD has grown exponentially; however, there are no bibliometric studies in this field. Objective: This article aimed to analyze scientific research on motherhood related to the autism spectrum published in WoS. Articles on motherhood related to ASD were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS). The advanced search interface used was "Title of the article, Abstract, Keywords". The analysis and visualization of the selected documents and their data were performed using a wide range of tools and software such as MS Excel (v16.0), VOS viewer (version 1.6.15), and R packages (Biblioshiny, version 2.0). A total of 1660 articles were included in this study. Most of the publications were original articles. The United States published the most significant number of articles among the countries identified. P.R. Hastings, M.M. Seltzer, and J. Van de Water were the main authors. The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders was the most productive and impactful journal. The main research topics were related to mental health and social support in the role of motherhood. This desk study provides researchers with a comprehensive understanding of ASD-related maternity research trends by evaluating relevant publications in recent decades. The results of this bibliometric analysis can serve as a basis and orientation for new studies.

Heritability of Sound Processing Deficits in Autism: Neural Insights

Heritability of Sound Processing Deficits in Autism: Neural Insights

A Systematic Review of Autistic People and the Criminal Justice System: An Update of King and Murphy (2014)

The purpose of this paper was to determine whether recommendations made by King & Murphy (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 44:2717–2733, 2014) in their review of the evidence on autistic people in contact with the criminal justice system (CJS) have been addressed. Research published since 2013 was systematically examined and synthesised. The quality of 47 papers was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Findings suggest a limited amount of good quality research has been conducted that has focused on improving our understanding of autistic people in contact with the CJS since 2013. Methodological limitations make direct comparisons between autistic and non-autistic offenders difficult. Autistic people commit a range of crimes and appear to have unique characteristics that warrant further exploration (i.e., vulnerabilities, motivations for offending).

Peer support interventions for parents and carers of children with complex needs.

Peer support interventions for parents and carers of children with complex needs.

Brief Report: Replication of the Five-Factor Structure of the Autism Impact Measure (AIM) in an Independent Sample.

The Autism Impact Measure is a caregiver-reported, behaviorally based measure designed to assess both frequency and functional impact of core ASD symptoms in children. This study used confirmatory factor analysis to determine if the factor structure of the AIM (Repetitive Behavior, Communication, Atypical Behavior, Social Reciprocity, and Peer Interaction), previously reported by Mazurek et al. (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 50: 2307-2319, 2020), was supported in a large (n = 611), independent sample. The sample was diverse in age (2-16years) and IQ (M = 76.6, SD = 22.7), but was composed of approximately 80% males. There were some nuanced differences between this study and Mazurek et al. (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 50: 2307-2319, 2020), but findings generally provided further evidence supporting the psychometric properties of the AIM.

Scientific research trends in gifted individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A Bibliographic Scattering Analysis (1998-2020)

ABSTRACT This study used the bibliographic scattering analysis to explore the scientific publications trends on gifted individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) over the past 23 years. The study examined the applicability and appropriateness of Bradford’s and Lotka’s laws of scattering to measure the impact factors of journals, institutions, countries, researchers, and personal publications on the area of research. After examining 95 research papers published in 55 Social Sciences Citation Indexed (SSCI) journals from 1998 to 2020. The rank list was prepared to identify the core journals in education. Themost frequent venues of journals in descending order of times cited are, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B-Biological Science (USA) with 33.8% of citation, followed by the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (USA) with 10.3% of citation and Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (USA) with 8.2% of citation. The top four categories of research were psychology with 37.13% of publications, followed by psychiatry (13.77%), neurosciences and neurology (11.38%), and education (8.38%). The study found that Asperger syndrome (AS) is still used in academic studies, even after it was immersed in the ASD by DSM-5 criteria. The findings and limitations were presented and discussed.

Collateral Child and Parent Effects of Function‑Based Behavioral Interventions for Sleep Problems in Children and Adolescents with Autism.

This study follows McLay et al., Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, (2020) to investigate whether the function-based behavioral sleep interventions received by 41 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) produced collateral improvements in ASD severity, internalizing and externalizing symptoms and parent relationship quality, ratings of depression, anxiety and stress, and personal sleep quality. Concomitant with reduced sleep problem severity, improvements were found in children's internalizing and externalizing behavior and ASD symptom severity. Small improvements were also found in maternal sleep quality and parental stress. There was little change in parental relationship quality post-treatment, possibly reflecting high baseline scores. Overall, collateral benefits were generally small but positive, consistent with the limited extant research, and underscore the importance of investigating collateral effects across a range of variables.

Testing a Model of Sexual Minority Orientation in Individuals with Typical Development, the Broad Autism Phenotype, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) are more likely than individuals with typical development (TD) to report a sexual minority orientation (e.g., Bejerot and Eriksson, PLoS ONE 9:1-9, 2014; DeWinter et al., Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 47:2927-2934, 2017; Qualls et al., Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 48:3974-3983, 2018). This study operationalized and tested the fit of an existing model of sexual orientation to examine which factors are associated with increased sexual minority orientation (Worthington et al., The Counseling Psychologist 30:496-531, 2002) in individuals with TD, BAP, and ASD. The model was found to have adequate fit, χ2 (130) = 374.04, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.07; CFI = 0.95; SRMR = 0.08. Heterosexism was found to be the only predictor of sexual minority orientation and a significant predictor in the BAP and ASD groups, with increased daily heterosexist experiences predicting greater sexual minority orientation in these groups.