Table 1.
Parents’ background characteristics.
| Mean (SD) Range
or N (%) |
|
|---|---|
| Mothers’ age (in years) a | 43.98 (6.33) 30.65–57.39 |
| Mothers’ predominant ethnic background | |
| Aboriginal | 1 (2%) |
| Asian | 1 (2%) |
| Caucasian | 40 (87%) |
| Mixed (Caucasian and Jamaican) | 1 (2%) |
| Missing | 3 (6%) |
| Location in Australia | |
| New South Wales | 7 (15%) |
| Queensland | 10 (22%) |
| Victoria | 12 (26%) |
| Western Australia | 17 (37%) |
| Highest qualification | |
| Completed less than 10 years of school | 1 (2%) |
| Completed 10 years of school | 1 (2%) |
| Completed 12 years of school | 3 (6%) |
| Completed trade or technical qualification | 10 (22%) |
| University degree | 28 (41%) |
| Missing | 3 (6%) |
| Total annual family income (before tax) in $AUD | |
| 35,001 to 40,000 (674–769 per week) | 1 (2%) |
| 40,001 to 50,000 (770–962 per week) | 2 (4%) |
| 50,001 to 60,000 (963–1154 per week) | 1 (2%) |
| 60,001 to 70,000 (1155–1346 per week) | 3 (6%) |
| 70,001 to 78,000 (1347–1500 per week) | 1 (2%) |
| 78,001 to 104,000 (1501–2000 per week) | 4 (9%) |
| 104,001 or more (> 2001 per week) | 28 (61%) |
| Prefer not to say | 1 (2%) |
| Missing | 5 (11%) |
| Number of siblings with autism diagnosis | 22 |
| Relatives with developmental difficulties | |
| Yes | 29 (63%) |
| No | 17 (37%) |
| Co-occurring conditions b | |
| Anxiety disorder | 10 (22%) |
| Asthma | 7 (15%) |
| Chronic allergies | 5 (11%) |
| Depression | 12 (26%) |
| Diabetes | 4 (9%) |
| Epilepsy | 2 (4%) |
| Heart disease | 1 (2%) |
| Hepatitis | 2 (4%) |
| Heart disease | 1 (2%) |
| Hypertension | 5 (11%) |
| Polycystic ovary syndrome | 5 (11%) |
| Thyroid problems | 4 (9%) |
a
n = 4 missing.
b
Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding issues.