A nationwide experiment conducted on close to half a million participants in the UK found that individuals working in the engineering and science fields tend to have more autistic-like attributes.
The study used a public online questionnaire, which was scientifically designed for quick assessment of the respondents' likelihood to display traits that are associated with autism.
Scientists led by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen from Cambridge University created the questionnaire, called the autistic spectrum quotient, which presented 50 statements. Examples of these statements are: "I am fascinated by numbers", "New situations make me anxious" and "I find it hard to make new friends".
Over 450,000 respondents completed the on-line questionnaire following a collaboration with Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies: Live from the Clinic. PhD student Emily Ruzich from Cambridge's Autism Research Centre analysed the results.
High scores indicated stronger traits from the autistic spectrum and vice versa. While the findings showed no link between traits of autism and the geographical location and age of the participants, the same findings showed a significant connection between the traits and the sex and occupation of the subjects.
According to Professor Baron-Cohen, "Previous studies have found the number of autistic traits a person has is influenced by both genetic factors and prenatal testosterone levels."
"These may shed light on why we find males in the population on average have slightly more autistic traits than females do, and why fathers and grandfathers of children with autism are over-represented in STEM fields."
The average Autism Quotient among the males is 21.6 and only 19.0 among the females. Participants with jobs in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) such as computing or accountancy had an average of 21.9. Those who worked non-STEM jobs had an average of 18.9.
Dr. Carrie Allison of the research team qualifies that the autistic spectrum quotient only provides a rough estimate of autism levels and is not designed to provide a full clinical diagnosis.
"A high score alone is not a reason to seek help. It is only if the high number of autistic traits is causing stress and difficulties that a person may need a referral to a specialist clinic."
This study was published in the journal PLOS One.
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