A latent profile analysis of empathizing-systemizing cognitive style among Chinese children aged 6 - 12 years: Links to intelligence, executive function, and autistic traits.

Background: Empathizing and systemizing abilities are respectively associated with key developmental outcomes like intelligence, executive function, and autistic traits, particularly in typically developing (TD) children. However, how specific cognitive styles-defined by the balance between empathizing and systemizing-relate to these outcomes remains unclear.

Methods: We conducted a latent profile analysis on 502 TD children aged 6‒12 years to identify cognitive styles based on multiple dimensions of empathizing and systemizing, measured by the Children's Empathy Quotient and Systemizing Quotient.