Gender parity in autism research : a bibliometric review

Abstract

Autism affects about 0.79% of the global population—nearly 62 million people—according to findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Autism Spectrum Collaborators. There is, however, a well documented underdiagnosis of girls. This study offers insights into the evolving landscape of autism research, revealing an uneven distribution in the representation of sex across studies. While most research published between 2015 and 2019 included both male and female subjects, studies focusing exclusively on male subjects were more prevalent than those studying only female subjects. An increasing number of papers dedicated specifically to female subjects indicates a growing momentum in exploring how autism manifests in women and girls—if this trend continues, it could help narrow the existing research gap. Our analysis also reveals that the majority of research articles related to autism are authored by women, who are also more likely to include both male and female subjects, as well as female-only subjects in their studies. Moreover, women show a greater inclination to report the sex distribution of their study samples. These insights are important for comprehending the evolution of autism research and addressing the gender disparity, ensuring that women and girls receive the support they need.