AUTORI: Kyselicov\u00e1, K., \u010cel\u00e1rov\u00e1, D., Celu\u0161\u00e1kov\u00e1, H., Jan\u0161\u00e1kov\u00e1, K., Gregu\u0161, M., Ne\u0161\u010d\u00e1kov\u00e1, E., Ostatn\u00edkov\u00e1, D.<\/p>\n
ABSTRACT: Objectives: Autistic traits may display a continuous distribu<\/span>tion throughout the population. The aim of the present study <\/span>was to assess the prevalence of autistic traits in university stu<\/span>dents and look for possible cognitive or behavioral differences <\/span>between students of humanities and sciences in the context of <\/span>the extreme male brain theory.<\/span> \u010cesk\u00e1 antropologie, 2020, 70(1-2):4-10<\/p>\n
Participants and setting: The AQ-10 was used as a quick <\/span>screening tool in a sample of 369 individuals enrolled in four <\/span>programs: Medicine (N = 107), Psychology (N = 136), Biology <\/span>(N = 89) and Management (N = 37).<\/span>
Hypotheses: In accordance with the extreme male brain the<\/span>ory, we expected students of sciences to report more autistic <\/span>traits than students of humanities, as well as males in general, <\/span>when compared to females.<\/span>
Statistical analysis: For the statistical analysis, GraphPad <\/span>PRISM was used. To assess intersexual differences and differ<\/span>ences between the study groups in the reached AQ-10 scores, <\/span>a two way ANOVA was used.<\/span>
Results: Sex differences in autistic traits and a relationship <\/span>between autistic traits and area of study were found. Male stu<\/span>dents reached higher scores than females (<\/span>p<\/span> = 0.0016). Male <\/span>psychology students reported less autistic traits than medicine <\/span>students (<\/span>p<\/span> = 0.0413) or management students (<\/span>p<\/span> = 0.0292), <\/span>while female psychology students reported less autistic traits <\/span>than biology students (<\/span>p<\/span> = 0.0425). The AQ-10 tool was sensi<\/span>tive enough to capture differences in the occurrence of autistic <\/span>traits between neurotypical students of humanities and scien<\/span>tific programs. Our findings raise the question whether ones <\/span>admission to different programs and future career pathing is <\/span>determined by traits that are associated with autism spectrum <\/span>disorders.<\/span>
Study limitations: There are certain limitations due to the <\/span>high female: male ratio (267 : 102), caused by the current de<\/span>crease of interest of males to study psychology and biology, <\/span>where this ratio was notably uneven.<\/span><\/p>\n