Table 2: Sociodemographic characteristics of children.

ASD (N=359) DS (N=145) T1DM (N=155)
Geographical Area [N, (%)]
Northern Italy 82 (22.8) 9 (6.2) 47 (30.3)
Central Italy 141 (39.3) 64 (44.1) 36 (23.2)
Southern Italy 136 (37.9) 72 (49.7) 72 (46.5)
Sex [N, (%)]
Male 309 (86.1) 87 (60.0) 77 (49.7)
Female 50 (13.9) 58 (40.0) 77 (49.7)
Age Range [N, (%)]
5-8 140 (39.0) 49 (33.8) 39 (25.2)
9-12 113 (31.5) 49 (33.8) 60 (38.7)
13-17 106 (29.5) 47 (32.4) 56 (36.1)
Age (mean ± SD) 9.9 ± 3.7 10.3 ±3.9 11.0 ±3.5
Educational Support at School [N, (%)]
Yes 329 (91.6) 138 (95.2) 0 (0.0)
No 19 (5.3) 7 (4.8) 155 (100.0)
Public Financial Support for School Attendance [N, (%)]
Yes 123 (34.3) 39 (26.9) 40 (25.8)
No 223 (62.1) 106 (73.1) 115 (74.2)
Invalidity Benefit [N, (%)]
Yes 234 (65.2) 128 (88.3) 2 (1.3)
No 107 (29.8) 11 (7.6) 147 (94.8)
Parental Work Facilitation [N, (%)]
Yes 187 (52.1) 82 (56.6) 12 (7.7)
No 159 (44.3) 58 (40.0) 143 (92.3)
Parental Membership in Family Associations [N, (%)]
Yes 121 (33.7) 103 (71.0) 74 (47.7)
No 226 (63.0) 41 (28.3) 81 (52.3)
Single-parent Family [N, (%)]
Mother only 10 (2.8) 2 (1.4) 2 (1.3)
Father only 6 (1.7) 1 (0.7) 0 (0.0)
Number of Other Siblings [N, (%)]
0 97 (27.0) 30 (20.7) 37 (23.9)
1 205 (57.1) 71 (49.0) 93 (60.0)
2 34 (9.5) 28 (19.3) 21 (13.5)
3 10 (2.8) 9 (6.2) 2 (1.3)
4 2 (0.6) 6 (4.1) 1 (0.6)
Parental Full-time Employment [N, (%)]
Both parents 97 (27.0) 38 (26.2) 49 (31.6)
Father only 207 (57.7) 91 (62.8) 87 (56.1)
Mother only 6 (1.7) 1 (0.7) 8 (5.2)

ASD = Autism Spectrum Disorder; DS = Down’s syndrome; T1DM = Type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Numbers may not sum to total due to missing data. Percentages are calculated as percentage of both available and missing data.