Neurodivergence and Gender Diversity: What the Latest Research Says

If you work with young people (or are one!), you may have noticed a real overlap between neurodivergence (like autism or ADHD) and gender diversity (including trans, non-binary and gender-fluid identities). Recent peer-reviewed research confirms this isn’t just a social media impression—it’s a consistent pattern across multiple studies.

What we know

Across many samples and countries, autistic traits and formal autism diagnoses appear at higher rates in gender-diverse groups, and gender diversity shows up more often among autistic people than in the general population. A 2023 meta-analysis estimated that about 11% of gender-diverse people meet criteria for autism, with gender-diverse groups scoring notably higher on autistic trait measures than cisgender groups. (Kallitsounaki & Williams, 2023).

Large health-system datasets deepen this picture. In a 2023 Pediatrics study using records from eight U.S. pediatric hospital networks (PEDSnet), autistic adolescents had roughly three times the odds of receiving a gender dysphoria diagnosis compared with their non-autistic peers—and youth who had both autism and gender dysphoria showed substantially higher rates of co-occurring mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. (Kahn et al., 2023).

Longitudinal work adds nuance. Following young people across puberty, a 2024 study in Autism Research found autistic youth reported greater gender diversity over time than non-autistic peers, with patterns varying by sex assigned at birth. (Corbett et al., 2024).

Why might they co-occur?

Recent scoping reviews suggest several overlapping factors rather than a single cause. These include a reduced tendency to conform to social norms, heightened interoceptive and sensory awareness, and differences in identity processing—features that may make gender exploration more explicit and sustained for neurodivergent youth. (Rea et al., 2024; Mittertreiner et al., 2024).

Qualitative research with autistic young people, parents and clinicians also highlights practical realities: sensory sensitivities, need for predictability, and communication differences can intensify distress when gendered expectations or bodies feel misaligned—while autism-informed supports can reduce this strain. (Cooper, Mandy, Butler, & Russell, 2022).

Don’t forget ADHD

The link isn’t only about autism. A 2022 systematic review found elevated ADHD prevalence among transgender and gender-diverse people, though the literature is younger and needs more community-led work. For practice, this means screening for ADHD (and supporting executive functioning) can meaningfully improve access to gender-affirming care. (Goetz & Adams, 2022).

What this means for care and school settings

Despite the growing evidence base, clinical guidance specifically for autistic, transgender and gender-diverse people is still catching up. A 2024 scoping review in EClinicalMedicine mapped current guidelines and found the intersection is mentioned in only a minority; it calls for multidisciplinary, autism-informed, gender-affirming pathways. (Bo et al., 2024).

Practical takeaways for youth and the adults who support them

• Validation first: Autistic and ADHD youth aren’t “confused” by default; many are accurately articulating who they are.

• Reduce sensory load: Small adjustments (lighting, fabrics, noise, bathroom access) can decrease overall distress.

• Executive-function supports: Clear steps, reminders and advocacy help with appointments, paperwork and follow-through.

• Joined-up care: Teams should collaborate across neurodevelopmental, mental health, and gender-affirming services. (Kahn et al., 2023; Bo et al., 2024).

Bottom line

The overlap between neurodivergence and gender diversity is real and well-documented. It’s not about “causation” so much as how brains, bodies and identities develop within social worlds. When systems meet young people with curiosity, sensory-aware environments and affirming, evidence-based care, outcomes improve.

References

Bo, L., van der Miesen, A. I. R., Klomp, S. E., Williams, Z. J., Szatmari, P., & Lai, M.-C. (2024). The missing clinical guidance: A scoping review of care for autistic transgender and gender-diverse people. EClinicalMedicine, 76, 102849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102849

Cooper, K., Mandy, W., Butler, C., & Russell, A. (2022). Phenomenology of gender dysphoria in autism: A multiperspective qualitative analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13691

Corbett, B. A., Muscatello, R. A., Cyperski, M., Sadikova, E., Edmiston, E. K., McGonigle, T. W., Calvosa, R., & Vandekar, S. (2024). Gender diversity in autistic and neurotypical youth over adolescence and puberty: A longitudinal study. Autism Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3141

Goetz, T. G., & Adams, N. (2022). The transgender and gender diverse and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder nexus: A systematic review. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/19359705.2022.2109119

Kahn, N. F., Sequeira, G. M., Reyes, V., Garrison, M. M., Orlich, F., Christakis, D. A., Aye, T., Conard, L. A. E., Dowshen, N., Kazak, A. E., Nahata, L., Nokoff, N. J., Voss, R. V., & Richardson, L. P. (2023). Mental health of youth with autism spectrum disorder and gender dysphoria. Pediatrics, 152(6), e2023063289. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-063289

Kallitsounaki, A., & Williams, D. M. (2023). Autism Spectrum Disorder and Gender Dysphoria/Incongruence: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(8), 3103–3117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05517-y

Mittertreiner, E. J. E., Ng-Cordell, E., McVey, A. J., & Kerns, C. M. (2024). Research methods at the intersection of gender diversity and autism: A scoping review. Autism, 28(12), 2953–2969. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241245595

Rea, H. M., Øien, R. A., Webb, S. J., Bansal, S., Strang, J. F., & Nordahl-Hansen, A. (2024). Gender diversity, gender dysphoria/incongruence, and the intersection with autism spectrum disorders: An updated scoping review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06650-6