Table 1. Demographic characteristics of autistic, non-autistic neurodivergent and neurotypical participants.
| Variable | Autistic (A) participants (n = 272) |
Non-autistic neurodivergent (ND) participants (n = 78) |
Neurotypical (NT) participants (n = 61) |
Group comparisons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | A < NT*, ND** |
|||
| Men (including trans men) | 89 (32.7%) | 34 (43.9%) | 33 (54.1%) | |
| Women (including trans women) | 163 (59.9%) | 43 (55.1%) | 27 (44.3%) | |
| Non-binary | 20 (7.4%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Prefer not to say | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.3%) | 1 (1.6%) | |
| Age | A > NT *** A = ND, ND = NT |
|||
| 18–25 | 34 (12.5%) | 7 (9.0%) | 9 (14.8%) | |
| 26–35 | 57 (21.0%) | 23 (29.5%) | 13 (21.3%) | |
| 36–46 | 66 (24.3%) | 17 (21.8%) | 15 (24.6%) | |
| 46–55 | 80 (29.4%) | 22 (28.2%) | 22 (36.1%) | |
| 56–65 | 32 (11.8%) | 6 (7.7%) | 1 (1.6%) | |
| 66–75 | 3 (1.1%) | 2 (2.6%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| 76+ | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (1.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Prefer not to say | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (1.6%) | |
| Ethnicity | A > NT*, A = ND, ND = NT | |||
| White British | 217 (79.8%) | 70 (90.9%) | 53 (86.9%) | |
| Other White backgrounds | 28 (10.3%) | 3 (3.4%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups | 11 (4.0%) | 1 (1.3%) | 2 (3.3%) | |
| Black/African/Caribbean/Black British |
2 (0.7%) | 1 (1.3%) | 2 (3.3%) | |
| Asian/Asian British | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (1.3%) | 3 (4.9%) | |
| Other ethnic groups | 3 (1.1%) | 1 (1.3%) | 1 (1.6%) | |
| Prefer not to say | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (1.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
|
Education
|
A < NT*, ND < NT***, A = ND, |
|||
| Bachelor’s Degree | 75 (27.6%) | 24 (30.8%) | 19 (31.1%) | |
| Master’s degree | 64 (23.5%) | 22 (28.2%) | 32 (52.5%) | |
| A/AS Level1 | 27 (9.9%) | 6 (7.7%) | 1 (1.6%) | |
| Doctorate | 19 (7.0%) | 3 (3.8%) | 2 (3.3%) | |
| GCSEs2 | 19 (7.0%) | 4 (5.1%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| BTEC3 | 15 (5.5%) | 5 (6.4%) | 2 (3.3%) | |
| Higher National Diploma3 | 13 (4.8%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (1.6%) | |
| Post Graduate Certificate | 11 (4.0%) | 6 (7.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Post Graduate Diploma | 8 (2.9%) | 2 (2.6%) | 2 (3.3%) | |
| No formal qualifications | 7 (2.6%) | 2 (2.6%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Foundation degree | 6 (2.2%) | 2 (2.6%) | 1 (1.6%) | |
| GNVQ3 | 4 (1.5%) | 1 (1.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Professional qualification | 4 (1.5%) | 1 (1.3%) | 1 (1.6%) | |
| Employment status | A < ND*, NT*, ND < NT*** |
|||
| Employed full time | 102 (37.6%) | 53 (67.9%) | 49 (80.3%) | |
| Employed part time | 60 (21.8%) | 10 (12.8%) | 11 (18.0%) | |
| Unemployed (looking for work) | 22 (9.5%) | 3 (3.8%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Self-employed | 26 (9.6%) | 3 (3.8%) | 1 (1.6%) | |
| Unemployed (not looking for work) | 21 (7.7%) | 1 (1.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Student | 13 (5.0%) | 1 (1.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Volunteer | 12 (4.4%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Retired | 7 (2.6%) | 5 (6.4%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Full time Parent/Carer | 6 (2.2%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Unemployed (with independent means) |
1 (0.4%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Apprentice or intern | 1 (0.4%) | 1 (1.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Temporary employment | 1 (0.4%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Employed (unspecified) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (1.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Prefer not to say | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Income | A < ND*, NT* ND < NT* |
|||
| < £10,000 | 63 (23.2%) | 6 (7.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| £10,000 - £19,999 | 66 (24.3%) | 10 (12.8%) | 1 (1.6%) | |
| £20,000 - £29,999 | 61 (22.4%) | 13 (16.7%) | 4 (6.6%) | |
| £30,000 - £39,999 | 26 (9.6%) | 15 (19.2%) | 20 (32.8%) | |
| £40,000 - £49,999 | 13 (4.8%) | 14 (18.0%) | 8 (13.1%) | |
| £50,000 - £59,999 | 6 (2.2%) | 1 (1.3%) | 3 (4.9%) | |
| £60,000 - £79,999 | 10 (3.7%) | 5 (6.4%) | 8 (13.1%) | |
| £80,000 - £99,999 | 3 (1.1%) | 3 (3.8%) | 6 (9.8%) | |
| £100,000 - £149,999 | 4 (1.5%) | 1 (1.3%) | 6 (9.8%) | |
| > £150,000 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Prefer not to say | 20 (7.4%) | 3 (3.8%) | 5 (8.2%) | |
| Satisfaction with employment | A*, ND* < NT |
|||
| Satisfied | 121 (44.5%) | 42 (53.8%) | 52 (85.2%) | |
| Uncertain | 65 (23.9%) | 14 (18.0%) | 6 (9.8%) | |
| Dissatisfied | 79 (29.0%) | 17 (21.8%) | 1 (1.6%) | |
| Prefer not to say | 1 (0.4%) | 2 (2.6%) | 2 (3.3%) | |
| Not applicable | 6 (2.2%) | 3 (3.8%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Number of different employers | A > NT*, ND > NT***, A = ND, | |||
| 1–2 | 28 (10.3%) | 17 (21.8%) | 19 (31.1%) | |
| 2–4 | 57 (21.0%) | 17 (21.8%) | 23 (37.7%) | |
| 4–6 | 50 (18.4%) | 15 (19.2%) | 6 (9.8%) | |
| More than 6 | 128 (47.1%) | 25 (32.1%) | 10 (16.4%) | |
| None | 7 (2.6%) | 4 (5.1%) | 2 (3.3%) | |
| Prefer not to say | 2 (0.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (1.6%) |
* p < .001
** p = .002
*** p = < .05.
1 AS-A-Levels are qualifications in the UK that are typically taken between 16 and 18 years old.
2 GCSEs are qualifications in the UK that are typically taken between 14 and 16 years old.
3 BTECs, GNVQs and Higher National Diplomas are vocational qualifications in the UK. The last GNVQs were awarded in 2007. BTECs are approximately equivalent to GCSE and AS/A-Level qualifications. Higher National Diplomas are approximately equivalent to years one and two of a Bachelor’s Degree.