Effects of Autism Status and Gender on Friendship Development in Adults

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

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Bidon, H. G. R. & Trautmann, C. (2026). Effects of Autism Status and Gender on Friendship Development in Adults [Preprint]. Center for Open Science. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/tpuxd_v1

Publication date: 17 Aug 2026 Added to AutiHub: 14 Oct 2026 Type: Preprint Article language: English

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2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)

Abstract

Friendships play a pivotal role in adults’ well-being and overall life satisfaction. Various factors, such as autism status and gender identity, can significantly affect how adults navigate friendships. Prior research in this field has contributed significantly to the knowledge of the social experiences of autistic people. This cross-sectional study explores how autism status and gender identity influence adult friendship development and maintenance. Using a modified version of the Cambridge Friendship Questionnaire (FQ), the study provides insights into the roles of autism status and gender in friendship development and maintenance. Valid survey responses from 710 individuals demonstrated significant differences in FQ scores based on autism and gender, as well as the independence of both variables. In general agreement with previous studies, the research found higher FQ scores for non-autistic people and women, with the highest FQ scores observed for non-autistic women.

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