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Exploring the Nature of Quantitative Autistic Traits: A Factor Mixture Modeling Approach
Objectives: To assess whether the latent structure of empathy, systemising and autistic traits is dimensional and whether meaningful subgroups can be identified within this structure.
Methods: Participants included individuals with an ASC (N=363), parents of a child with ASC (N=439) and general population controls (N=232). Participants completed measures of empathy (EQ), systemising (SQ) and autistic traits (AQ) using an online test platform. Factor mixture models were conducted to assess the most parsimonious number of factors and classes that can be identified. Mixture models allow for assessment of both the number of underlying dimensions as well as the identification of classes or groups of individuals. The factors model the severity of the trait, while the latent class variable allows for the classification of subgroups of individuals.
Results: Results highlighted a 2-factor three-class model with one empathising and one systemising factor and three latent classes of individuals. Class 1 was characterised by heightened systemising and low empathy, consisting mostly of individuals with autism and a small proportion of controls. Approximately a third of parents were also represented in the first class. Approximately half the control group and 40% of parents with equivalent empathy and systemising scores were represented in Class 2. Consisting mostly of controls, the third class displayed high empathising and lower systemising scores.
Conclusions: Results suggest three classes of individuals based on levels of empathising, systemising and autistic traits. Class 1 confirms that autism is characterised by impaired empathising alongside intact or superior systemising. The finding that a third of parents were best represented by this class highlights the existence of the broader autism phenotype. Moreover, findings support the notion that autistic traits, as well as empathising and systemising, are continuously distributed across all subpopulations, lending support to a dimensional conceptualisation of autism. This has implications for guiding future conceptualisations of diagnostic criteria as well as the development of assessment instruments and more tailored interventions.