We divided the participants into four groups according to their gender (male and female) and grades (younger group: Grades 1–4 and older group: Grades 5–8). Our decision on dividing the participants into younger and older groups (Grades 1– 4 and Grades 5–8, respectively) is based on several reasons. First, the transition into Grade 5 in Taiwan represents a period characterized by increasing academic workload, increased levels of difficulties in subjects and course contents, and increasing pressures from parents and teachers to perform well academically. Secondly, we attempted to differentiate between early childhood and middle childhood by dividing the sample into Grades 1–4 (early childhood) and Grades 5–8 (middle childhood) because research has suggested that in middle childhood, children increasingly spend more time with peers and that the significance of peer relationships and social support from peers become more salient during middle childhood (Rubin, Bukowski, & Parker, 1998). As such, having autistic-like traits may place older children at a greater risk of experiencing difficulties with peers. Third, because grade retention is not permitted in elementary and junior high schools (Grade 1 to Grade 9) in Taiwan, grade level could be regarded as a proxy for age.
We divided the participants into four groups according to their gender (male and female) and grades (younger group: Grades 1–4 and older group: Grades 5–8). Our decision on dividing the participants into younger and older groups (Grades 1– 4 and Grades 5–8, respectively) is based on several reasons. First, the transition into Grade 5 in Taiwan represents a period characterized by increasing academic workload, increased levels of difficulties in subjects and course contents, and increasing pressures from parents and teachers to perform well academically. Secondly, we attempted to differentiate between early childhood and middle childhood by dividing the sample into Grades 1–4 (early childhood) and Grades 5–8 (middle childhood) because research has suggested that in middle childhood, children increasingly spend more time with peers and that the significance of peer relationships and social support from peers become more salient during middle childhood (Rubin, Bukowski, & Parker, 1998). As such, having autistic-like traits may place older children at a greater risk of experiencing difficulties with peers. Third, because grade retention is not permitted in elementary and junior high schools (Grade 1 to Grade 9) in Taiwan, grade level could be regarded as a proxy for age.
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