Effects of Autism Status and Gender on Friendship Development in Adults

<p>Friendships play a pivotal role in adults’ well-being and overall life satisfaction. Various factors, such as autism status and gender identity, can significantly affect how adults navigate friendships. Prior research in this field has contributed significantly to the knowledge of the social experiences of autistic people. This cross-sectional study explores how autism status and gender identity influence adult friendship development and maintenance. Using a modified version of the Cambridge Friendship Questionnaire (FQ), the study provides insights into the roles of autism status and gender in friendship development and maintenance. Valid survey responses from 710 individuals demonstrated significant differences in FQ scores based on autism and gender, as well as the independence of both variables. In general agreement with previous studies, the research found higher FQ scores for non-autistic people and women, with the highest FQ scores observed for non-autistic women.</p>