The social domain of autism has been studied in depth, but the relationship between the non-social traits of autism has received less attention. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) outlines four criteria that make up the non-social domain including repetitive motor movements, insistence on sameness, restricted interests and sensory sensitivity. There is a lack of research into the relationship between these four criteria. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the non-social traits of autism in a large sample of autistic adults. It explored whether these traits are best conceptualised as four distinct factors, or exist along a single dimension. Participants included autistic adults from the Netherlands Autism Register. The four components identified within the DSM-5 non-social domain were measured by items from the Adult Routines Inventory, the Autism Spectrum Quotient short and the Sensory Perception Quotient short. Confirmatory factor analysis, as well as exploratory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modelling, was implemented to examine the relationship between these four criteria. Results indicated that a four-factor model provided the best fit, mapping onto the DSM-5 criteria. These four factors were moderately correlated, suggesting that four distinct, yet related factors best describe the non-social domain of autism. The one-factor model did not provide a good fit, highlighting that the non-social domain of autism is not a unitary construct. The study included autistic adults who were cognitively able to complete the self-report measures. This may limit the generalisability of the findings to those who are less able to do so. This study provided evidence for the multidimensional nature of the non-social domain of autism. Given only two of the four criteria within the non-social domain need to be endorsed for a diagnosis of autism, there is room for substantial variation across individuals, who will have a unique profile within the non-social domain. The results have implications for our understanding of the heterogeneous nature of autistic traits, as well as for how we conceptualise autism as a diagnostic category. This is important for the provision of diagnosis and support within research and clinical practice.

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评估自闭症成人非社会领域的潜在结构

自闭症的社会领域已被深入研究，但自闭症的非社会特征之间的关系较少受到关注。精神障碍诊断和统计手册 (DSM-5) 概述了构成非社会领域的四个标准，包括重复性运动、坚持相同、限制兴趣和感官敏感性。缺乏对这四个标准之间关系的研究。本研究旨在评估大量自闭症成年人样本中自闭症的非社会特征之间的关系。它探讨了这些特征是最好将其概念化为四个不同的因素，还是存在于一个维度上。参与者包括来自荷兰自闭症登记册的自闭症成年人。在 DSM-5 非社会领域中确定的四个组成部分是通过成人日常活动清单、自闭症谱系商数和感官知觉商数中的项目来衡量的。验证性因素分析，以及探索性因素分析和探索性结构方程模型，被实施来检查这四个标准之间的关系。结果表明，四因子模型提供了最佳拟合，映射到 DSM-5 标准。这四个因素中度相关，表明四个不同但相关的因素最能描述自闭症的非社会领域。单因素模型没有提供很好的拟合，强调自闭症的非社会领域不是一个单一的结构。该研究包括在认知能力上能够完成自我报告测量的自闭症成年人。这可能会限制研究结果对那些能力较差的人的普遍性。这项研究为自闭症非社会领域的多维性质提供了证据。鉴于非社会领域内的四个标准中只有两个需要被认可才能诊断自闭症，因此个体之间存在巨大差异的空间，他们在非社会领域具有独特的特征。结果对我们理解自闭症特征的异质性以及我们如何将自闭症概念化为诊断类别具有重要意义。这对于在研究和临床实践中提供诊断和支持很重要。这可能会限制研究结果对那些能力较差的人的普遍性。这项研究为自闭症非社会领域的多维性质提供了证据。鉴于非社会领域内的四个标准中只有两个需要被认可才能诊断自闭症，因此个体之间存在巨大差异的空间，他们在非社会领域具有独特的特征。结果对我们理解自闭症特征的异质性以及我们如何将自闭症概念化为诊断类别具有重要意义。这对于在研究和临床实践中提供诊断和支持很重要。这可能会限制研究结果对那些能力较差的人的普遍性。这项研究为自闭症非社会领域的多维性质提供了证据。鉴于非社会领域内的四个标准中只有两个需要被认可才能诊断自闭症，因此个体之间存在巨大差异的空间，他们在非社会领域具有独特的特征。结果对我们理解自闭症特征的异质性以及我们如何将自闭症概念化为诊断类别具有重要意义。这对于在研究和临床实践中提供诊断和支持很重要。鉴于非社会领域内的四个标准中只有两个需要被认可才能诊断自闭症，因此个体之间存在巨大差异的空间，他们在非社会领域具有独特的特征。结果对我们理解自闭症特征的异质性以及我们如何将自闭症概念化为诊断类别具有重要意义。这对于在研究和临床实践中提供诊断和支持很重要。鉴于非社会领域内的四个标准中只有两个需要被认可才能诊断自闭症，因此个体之间存在巨大差异的空间，他们将在非社会领域具有独特的特征。结果对我们理解自闭症特征的异质性以及我们如何将自闭症概念化为诊断类别具有重要意义。这对于在研究和临床实践中提供诊断和支持很重要。