Abstract
Introduction Considering the scarcity of research that directly investigates the differences between genders in their response to applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the objective of this study is twofold. First, it aims to reinforce the male-to-female ratio reported in existing scientific literature, thereby contributing to a broader understanding of gender distribution in ABA therapy for ASD. Second, it seeks to identify gender-based differences in aggregate target behaviors at various time intervals using three distinct datasets. The goal is to determine if gender influences the effectiveness of ABA therapy for ASD, which could inform future therapeutic strategies. Ultimately, this study strives to enhance our understanding of gender disparities in ABA therapy response among ASD individuals and hopes to improve therapeutic outcomes for all, regardless of gender. Materials and methods Three to five behavioral technicians per child collected daily general target mastery data for 263 individuals with autism. This data was gathered using a large N design through retrospective chart reviews within the "Catalyst" tracking software (DataFinch Technologies, Atlanta, USA). Three separate datasets were collected from June 7, 2023 to January 7, 2024. Behavior analysts employed a mixed model of discrete trial training, mass trials, and naturalistic environment treatment over seven months. General target mastery data was assembled for 259 children and four adults, with seven data instances missing. Descriptive statistics encompassed central tendency and dispersion measures, including the data distribution's mean, standard deviation, median, and range. Non-parametric inferential analysis was performed with the Mann-Whitney U test. Results Mann-Whitney U computations resulted in non-significant gender differences on all gender comparisons for the three datasets covering the seven-month timeframe. Dataset #1: Time 1-(U=727.5, p=0.846, ή2=0.0002, Time 2-(U=736, p=0.910, ή2=0.00005), Time 3-(U=687.5, p=0.569, ή2=0.001) Dataset #2: Time 1-(U=781, p=0.383, ή2=0.003), Time 2-(U=819.5, p=0.585, ή2=0.001), Time 3-(U=825, p=0.618, ή2=0.001) Dataset #3: Time 1-(U=395, p=0.198, ή2=0.007), Time 2-(U=373.5, p=0.365, ή2 =0.003), Time 3-(U=363, p=0.471, ή2=0.002), Time 4-(U=366.5, p=0.436, ή2 =0.003), Time 5-(U=371, p=0.391, ή2=0.003), Time 6-(U=394, p=0.208, ή2=0.007), Time 7-(U=373, p=0.373, ή2=0.003), Time 8-(U=371.5, p=0.387, ή2=0.003), Time 9-(U=464.5, p=0.512, ή2=0.002), Time 10-(U=356.5, p=0.546, ή2=0.002), Time 11-(U=357.5, p=0.535, ή2=0.002), Time 12-(U=350.5, p=0.346, ή2=0.004) Conclusions This study suggests no significant gender differences in response to ABA therapy among individuals with autism, indicating its potential effectiveness for both genders. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to statistical uncertainties reflected in the broad confidence intervals as they hint at possible substantial gender differences. Further research, including an extension study, must confirm these results and understand potential gender nuances in ABA therapy response. This could help tailor more effective, personalized therapeutic strategies for individuals with autism.