Citation:
Alvares GA, Licari MK, Stevenson PG, Bebbington K, Cooper MN, Glasson EJ, Tan DW, Uljarevic M, Varcin KJ, Wray J, Whitehouse AJO. Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypes. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2020.
Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorder; diagnosis; first birth; intellectual disability
Abstract:
Birth order effects have been linked to variability in intelligence, educational attainment and sexual orientation. First- and later-born children have been linked to an increased likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, with a smaller body of evidence implicating decreases in cognitive functioning with increased birth order. The present study investigated the potential association between birth order and ASD diagnostic phenotypes in a large and representative population sample.
Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypes
Birth order effects have been linked to variability in intelligence, educational attainment and sexual orientation. First- and later-born children have been linked to an increased likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, with a smaller body of evidence implicating decreases in cognitive functioning with increased birth order. The present study investigated the potential association between birth order and ASD diagnostic phenotypes in a large and representative population sample.