The Experiences of Late-diagnosed Women with Autism Spectrum Conditions: An Investigation of the Female Autism Phenotype

Bargiela, S., Steward, R., & Mandy, W. (2016). The Experiences of Late-diagnosed Women with Autism Spectrum Conditions: An Investigation of the Female Autism Phenotype. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(10), 3281-3294. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2872-8

Publication date: 25 Jul 2016 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 3 (33.3%)

Abstract

We used Framework Analysis to investigate the female autism phenotype and its impact upon the under-recognition of autism spectrum conditions (ASC) in girls and women. Fourteen women with ASC (aged 22-30 years) diagnosed in late adolescence or adulthood gave in-depth accounts of: 'pretending to be normal'; of how their gender led various professionals to miss their ASC; and of conflicts between ASC and a traditional feminine identity. Experiences of sexual abuse were widespread in this sample, partially reflecting specific vulnerabilities from being a female with undiagnosed ASC. Training would improve teachers' and clinicians' recognition of ASC in females, so that timely identification can mitigate risks and promote wellbeing of girls and women on the autism spectrum.

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These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
63
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
2 / 63 (3.2%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
2 / 204 (1.0%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 2 / 52 (3.8%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 2 / 185 (1.1%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
52 / 204 (25.5%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 39 / 185 (21.1%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
50 / 52 (96.2%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 50 / 204 (24.5%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 37 / 39 (94.9%).
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