UCLA

Research suggests studying personalities of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) could give insight into the heterogeneity that exists within ASD. The present study aimed to: (1) determine the extent to which the Five Factor Model of Personality (FFM) and its facets account for variability in ASD symptomatology (2) verify differences in average FFM personality profiles of adults with and without ASD and (3) to identify distinct behavioral phenotypes that exist within ASD. A sample of 828 adults completed an online survey consisting of an autism diagnostic questionnaire (RAADS-R) and an FFM personality questionnaire (IPIP-NEO-120). Results indicate that IPIP-NEO-120 facet scores account for 70% of the variance in RAADS-R scores. Neuroticism positively correlated with RAADS-R scores, while Extraversion, Openness to experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness negatively correlated with RAADS-R scores. In addition, four distinct FFM personality subtypes emerged within adults with ASD based on k-means cluster analysis.