Brief Report: Gender Differences in Experiences of Peer Victimization Among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Peer victimization (PV) is a common problem for many adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can negatively impact the mental health and well-being of these youth. Results of the current study of 105 adolescents with ASD (n = 50 girls, 55 boys) indicated that girls and boys experience similar types of PV at similar frequencies. However, relational victimization accounted for a significant portion of variance in anxiety symptoms, above and beyond social communication deficits and restricted and repetitive behaviors, in girls but not in boys. Findings provide preliminary evidence suggesting that the impact of PV on mental health symptoms may be different for girls and boys with ASD, highlighting the need for more research focused on understanding potentially unique social processes for adolescent girls with ASD.