Behavioral and emotional problems of toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: Effects of parents' sociocultural level and individual factors

Alice Bacherini; Roberta Igliozzi; Romina Cagiano; Alice Mancini; Raffaella Tancredi; Filippo Muratori; Giulia Balboni

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104106

Behavioral and emotional problems of toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: Effects of parents' sociocultural level and individual factors

Res Dev Disabil. 2021 Dec:119:104106. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104106. Epub 2021 Oct 14.

Authors

Alice Bacherini¹, Roberta Igliozzi², Romina Cagiano², Alice Mancini², Raffaella Tancredi², Filippo Muratori³, Giulia Balboni⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Piazza G. Ermini, 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
² IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation - Pisa, Italy, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128, Calambrone.
³ IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation - Pisa, Italy, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128, Calambrone; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy.
⁴ Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Piazza G. Ermini, 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy. Electronic address: giulia.balboni@unipg.it.

PMID: 34656889
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104106

Abstract

Background: Toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show higher prevalence and severity of Behavioral and Emotional Problems (BEP) than their peers without ASD.

Aims: Investigating the effects of parental factors, i.e., mothers' and fathers' age and Sociocultural Level (Socioeconomic Status, Cultural Capital, and Social Capital), and individual factors, i.e., toddles' age, birth order, general development, autism symptom severity, and adaptive behavior, on the expression of BEP in toddlers with ASD.

Methods: Participants were 148 toddlers with ASD (aged 18-37 months) and both their parents. BEP were measured with the Child Behavior Checklist 1½-5 (CBCL) Syndrome and Pervasive developmental problems (PDD) DSM-oriented scales, general development with the Griffiths Mental Development Scales (GMDS), autism symptom severity with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2), and adaptive behavior with the Vineland-II Adaptive behavior composite.

Results: Vineland-IIAdaptive behavior composite was negatively associated with the majority of the CBCL scales. In contrast, the ADOS-2 Restrictive and repetitive behavior was negatively and the ADOS-2 Social affect, toddlers' age, and birth order were positively associated with only a few of the CBCL scales (e.g., PDD). GMDS scores were not associated with any CBCL scales. Mothers' age and fathers' Cultural Capital and Social Capital dimensions were negatively associated with specific CBCL scales, even when considered in addition to individuals' factors.

Conclusions: Individual and parental factors simultaneously affect the expression of BEP and should be considered for clinical decisions.

Keywords: ADOS-2; Behavioral and emotional problems; CBCL; Sociocultural level; Toddler; Vineland-II.

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Autism Spectrum Disorder* / epidemiology
Autistic Disorder*
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Mothers
Parents