The Moderating Effect of Sex on Autistic Trait Emotional Intelligence, Alexithymia, and Empathy

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with differences in social communication, and these differences are related to trait emotional intelligence (TEI), alexithymia, and empathy. Autism is known to present differently in males and females, but research on sex differences in TEI, alexithymia, and empathy is largely relegated to non-autistic people. Therefore, the current research sought to explore individual relationships between autistic characteristics and TEI, alexithymia, and empathy, as well as the possible influence of sex in these relationships. In the current study, autistic and non-autistic adults reported on their autistic characteristics, TEI, alexithymia, and empathy. Based on previous research, it was hypothesized that more autistic characteristics would be associated with less TEI, more alexithymia, and less empathy, and that these relationships would be more prominent amongst males. More autistic characteristics were associated with greater challenges across the three areas of interest. However, only the relationship between TEI and autistic characteristics was moderated by sex, such that males demonstrated higher support needs related to TEI than females. Results from this analysis indicate that adults with more autistic characteristics, regardless of diagnostic status, demonstrate differences in TEI, alexithymia, and empathy. The current analysis may offer additional context to the evolving understanding of empathy and autism by suggesting that TEI and alexithymia could account for differences in empathy. Moreover, sex seems to play a role in the relationship between autistic characteristics and TEI such that differences are especially prominent for males.