Table 1.
Descriptive characteristics a of the study population.
| TD b (n = 38) | ASD c (n = 42) | Total (n = 80) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 9.1 ± 1.7, 8.8 (7.8–10.3) |
8.3 ± 1.6, 7.7 (7.0–9.8) p = 0.05 |
8.7 ± 1.7, 8.7 (7.3–9.8) |
| Sex, males, n (%) | 38 (100%) | 42 (100%) | 80 (100%) |
| General IQ | 112.7 ± 13.8, 116.0 (105.0–122.0) |
107.6 ± 16.9, 108.0 (95.0–121.0) p = 0.17 |
110.0 ± 15.6, 111.0 (100.0–121.5) |
| Verbal IQ | 107.9 ± 16.0, 108.0 (96.0–117.0) |
98.8 ± 18.2, 99.0 (86.0–114.5) p = 0.03 |
103.0 ± 17.7, 103.5 (91.0–115.5) |
| Birth weight (g) | 3081 ± 653, 3125 (2740–3400) |
3213 ± 440, 3200 (2900–3500) p = 0.35 |
3156.1 ± 541.4, 3200 (2845–3485) |
| Maternal age at birth (years) | 32.2 ± 4.7, 32.0 (29.5–35.5) |
33.6 ± 5.0, 33.0 (29.0–38.0) p = 0.28 |
32.9 ± 4.9, 32.0 (29.0–36.0) |
| AQ d Communication | 6.5 ± 4.2, 7.0 (3.5–9.0) |
12.5 ± 4.2, 12.5 (9.8–15.3) p < 0.001 |
9.5 ± 5.1, 9.0 (6.0–13.0) |
| AQ Social skills | 7.2 ± 4.6, 8.0 (3.0–9.5) |
11.0 ± 3.9, 11.0 (8.8–13.0) p = 0.001 |
9.1 ± 4.6, 9.0 (7.0–12.0) |
| AQ Attention switching | 10.3 ± 3.9, 11.0 (6.5–13.0) |
13.6 ± 4.3, 13.0 (10.0–18.0) p = 0.002 |
12.0 ± 4.4, 11.0 (9.0–15.0) |
| AQ Attention to detail | 15.1 ± 5.1, 15.0 (12.0–17.0) |
15.4 ± 5.1, 15.0 (11.8–20.0) p = 0.47 |
15.2 ± 5.0, 15.0 (12.0–18.0) |
| AQ Imagination | 9.9 ± 3.7, 11.0 (10.8–15.3) |
12.3 ± 3.8, 12.0 (29.5–35.5) p = 0.009 |
11.1 ± 3.9, 11.0 (9.0–14.0) |
| AQ Total | 49.0 ± 11.5, 50.0 (44.0–55.0) |
64.7 ± 13.3, 64.0 (56.0–73.5) p < 0.001 |
57.0 ± 14.7, 57.0 (46.0–65.0) |
| EQ e Total | 36.8 ± 8.1, 36.0 (33.5–42.0) |
30.2 ± 7.3, 29.0 (24.8–35.5) p < 0.001 |
33.5 ± 8.3, 34.0 (27.0–40.0) |
| SQ f Total | 29.0 ± 7.3, 28.0 (23.0–34.5) |
26.6 ± 6.7, 27.5 (20.8–32.3) p = 0.21 |
27.8 ± 7.0, 28.0 (22.0–34.0) |
a Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation, median (interquartile range) for continuous variables. Categorical outcomes are presented as absolute and relative frequencies, n (%). p-values refer to comparisons between TD and ASD groups (Student’s t-test). Statistically significant associations are shown in bold (p < 0.05); b TD: Typical development; c ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder; d AQ: Autism spectrum quotient; e EQ: Empathy quotient; f SQ: Systemizing quotient.