Table 1

Demographic data for the participants in the Asperger syndrome (AS)/high-functioning autism (HFA) and control groups


AS/HFA group N (%)
Control group N (%)

Family status


     nuclear
21 (65.6)
28 (87.5)
     single parent
5 (15.6)
2 (6.2)
     one step-parent
6 (18.7)
2 (6.2)



High-school education


     mothers
20/31 (64.5)
19/30 (63.3)
     fathers
20/30 (66.6)
17/29 (58.6)



Gainful employment of parents


     mothers
23/31 (74.1)
28/30 (93.3)
     fathers
28/30 (93.3)
28/29 (96.5)
On sick leave (for any illnesses)





     mothers
3/31 (9.6)
1/30 (3.3)
     fathers
0/30
1/29 (3.4)



Age of parents (years)


     mothers
42.4 ± 6.7
40.3 ± 5.1
     fathers
45.6 ± 6.9
42.7 ± 4.9

Fischer's Exact test or Mann-Whitney test (age of parents). All differences between parents of the two groups were statistically non-significant.

Allik et al. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2006 4:1   doi:10.1186/1477-7525-4-1