The Differences in Sex Development Project 

Background

There is currently limited research about mental health and support needs for people who have differences in sex development, such as Turner syndrome, also known as XO, or Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS). In particular, little is known about whether these individuals are more or less likely to be autistic or show other forms of neurodivergence.  

Mental health includes conditions such as anxiety and depression. Brain types, also known as cognitive styles, are a way of understanding differences in how people think, process information and show personality traits. Brain-type classifications are based on scores from two well-established self-report questionnaires: the Empathy Quotient (EQ) and the Systemising Quotient (SQ).

Empathy refers to the ability to recognise another person’s thoughts and feelings, and to respond to these with an appropriate emotion. Systemising is the drive to analyse, construct, and understand systems, defined as anything that has patterns and rules. 

Research using these measures has identified average differences between males and females, as well as average differences between autistic and non-autistic people (Greenberg et al., 2018). Studies also suggest that EQ and SQ scores in childhood are linked to levels of testosterone exposure before birth, indicating a biological influence on cognitive style (Chapman et al., 2006; Auyeung et al, 2006). Since sex steroid hormone levels often differ in people with differences in sex development, this is another reason to study cognitive style in people with these diagnoses.  

Why we are doing this research

The aims of this study are to collect online data on mental health in neurodivergent people, including those with differences in sex development. It will examine their cognitive brain profiles and explore how these relate to neurodevelopmental or mental health diagnoses, as well as genetic or hormonal conditions.

We will compare their brain-type profiles with data obtained from people in the general population to better understand patterns of mental health and cognitive diversity.

Method

Participants are invited to complete online questionnaires and are recruited via support groups and patient organisations, as well as targeted advertising on social media. Anonymised questionnaire data will be analysed using statistics with careful matching or adjustment for participant characteristics (e.g., sex assigned at birth, use of hormonal supplements etc.) to assess group differences.

If you would like to take part, please visit: https://yourbraintype.com

Community engagement

This study and survey were co-produced with people with XXY / Klinefelter Syndrome, as well as people with other forms of neurodivergence (e.g., autism and ADHD) and those who identify as gender diverse.

Potential impact

An important part of this project will explore the mental health and support needs of the people with differences in sex development.

While these questionnaires and information on individual ‘brain types’ are not diagnostic, they can capture neurodiversity in different groups. This may prompt further research into the biological underpinnings of these brain types in individuals with differences in sex development, as well as in the general population.

Results

We anticipate sharing the results towards the end of 2027. When ready, the key findings will be shared on this page.  

Funders

Staff

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