scholarly journals Interpersonal similarity of autistic traits predicts friendship quality

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitris Bolis ◽  
Juha M Lahnakoski ◽  
Daniela Seidel ◽  
Jeanette Tamm ◽  
Leonhard Schilbach
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Friendship Quality ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Multiscale Dynamics ◽  
Social Abilities ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Interpersonal Similarity

Abstract Autistic traits are known to be associated with social interaction difficulties. Yet, somewhat paradoxically, relevant research has been typically restricted to studying individuals. In line with the ‘dialectical misattunement hypothesis’ and clinical insights of intact social interactions among autistic individuals, we hypothesized that friendship quality varies as a function of interpersonal similarity and more concretely the difference value of autistic traits in a dyad, above and beyond autistic traits per se. Therefore, in this study, we used self-report questionnaires to investigate these measures in a sample of 67 neurotypical dyads across a broad range of autistic traits. Our results demonstrate that the more similar two persons are in autistic traits, the higher is the perceived quality of their friendship, irrespective of friendship duration, age, sex and, importantly, the (average of) autistic traits in a given dyad. More specifically, higher interpersonal similarity of autistic traits was associated with higher measures of closeness, acceptance and help. These results, therefore, lend support to the idea of an interactive turn in the study of social abilities across the autism spectrum and pave the way for future studies on the multiscale dynamics of social interactions.

scholarly journals Investigating the Relationship Between Event Knowledge, Autistic Traits, and Social Ability Using Graph Theory

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara Elise Hannah ◽  
Kevin Brown ◽  
Mikayla Hall-Bruce ◽  
Ryan A Stevenson ◽  
Ken McRae
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Social Ability ◽  
Event Knowledge ◽  
Communication Problems ◽  
Social Nature ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Abilities ◽  
The Relationship

Event knowledge, a person’s understanding of patterns of activities in the world, is crucial for everyday social interactions. Atypical event knowledge could contribute to social communication problems, which are prominent in autism spectrum disorder. Previous research has found atypical event knowledge in autistic individuals; however, research is minimal. In two studies, the relationship between event knowledge and autistic traits, namely social abilities, was investigated. We predicted associations between atypical event knowledge and poorer social abilities. In Study 1, lower social ability correlated with more atypical ordering of event activities. In Study 2, for atypical activity ordering, a relationship was found between social ability and the social nature of events. No significant results were found for other measures of event knowledge. These findings suggest a relationship exists between autistic traits, namely social abilities, and event activity ordering, but does not exist for other areas of event knowledge in the general population.

scholarly journals Assortative Mating, Autistic Traits, Empathizing, and Systemizing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth Richards ◽  
Simon Baron-Cohen ◽  
Holly Stokes ◽  
Varun Warrier ◽  
Ben Mellor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assortative Mating ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Random Pattern ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Romantic Couples ◽  
Empathy Quotient ◽  
The Difference

AbstractIt has been suggested that the children of parents with particular interests and aptitude for understanding systems via input-operation-output rules (i.e. systemizing) are at increased likelihood of developing autism. Furthermore, assortative mating (i.e. a non-random pattern in which individuals are more likely to pair with others who are similar to themselves) is hypothesised to occur in relation to systemizing, and so romantic couples may be more similar on this variable than chance would dictate. However, no published study has yet tested this hypothesis. We therefore examined intra-couple correlations for a measure of autistic traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient [AQ]), self-report measures of empathizing (Empathy Quotient [EQ]), and systemizing (Systemizing Quotient-Revised [SQ-R]), as well as the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and Embedded Figures Task (EFT). We observed positive intra-couple correlations of small-to-medium magnitude for all measures except EQ. Further analyses suggest that these effects are attributable to people pairing with those who are more similar to themselves than chance (initial assortment) rather than becoming more alike over the course of a relationship (convergence), and to seeking out self-resembling partners (active assortment) rather than pairing in this manner due to social stratification increasing the likelihood of similar people meeting in the first place (social homogamy). Additionally, we found that the difference in scores for the AQ, SQ-R, RMET and EFT of actual couples were smaller (i.e. more similar) than the average difference scores calculated from all other possible male-female pairings within the dataset. The current findings therefore provide clear evidence in support of the assortative mating theory of autism.

Effect of a Two-Caregiver-Mediated, Occupation-Centered Intervention for a Family With a Toddler With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 7512515297p1-7512515297p1
Author(s):  
Abigail M. Carroll
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Parental Stress ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Young Children With Autism ◽  
Coaching Approach ◽  
Primary Author

Abstract Date Presented 04/13/21 Because of the key role parenting plays in a child's development, parent-mediated interventions that train one parent are a common approach to intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, this approach has resulted in mixed findings and may lead to increased parental stress. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a two-parent occupation-centered intervention using a coaching approach improved the quality of social interactions of a family with a toddler with ASD. Primary Author and Speaker: Abigail M. Carroll Contributing Authors: Emily Anderson, Lindsey Hatton, Mary Ferarro, Elyse C. Kelly, Katherine E. Schlager, Amanda Shea, and Kerianne Watlington

Relations among Early Adolescents' Parent-Adolescent Attachment, Perceived Social Competence, and Friendship Quality

2011 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 819-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa W. Boling ◽  
Carolyn McNamara Barry ◽  
Beth A. Kotchick ◽  
Jen Lowry
Keyword(s):  
Social Competence ◽  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Early Adolescents ◽  
Friendship Quality ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Affective Quality ◽  
Adolescent Attachment

To assess whether the relation between attachment and friendship quality may be explained by social competence, 113 students in Grades 7 and 8 from the Baltimore metropolitan area completed self-report questionnaires on the variables of interest. In hierarchical regression analyses, both maternal Affective Quality of Attachment and the interaction of School with paternal Affective Quality of Attachment predicted social competence. Also, the interaction of School with paternal Affective Quality of Attachment predicted negative friendship features, whereas social competence predicted positive friendship features. These findings provide support for a pathway between adolescents' attachment to both parents and adolescents' perceived social competence and, in turn, their friendship quality.

scholarly journals Development and Validation of the Suicide Behaviours Questionnaire – Autism Spectrum Conditions in Autistic, Possibly Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Cassidy ◽  
Louise Bradley ◽  
Heather Cogger-Ward ◽  
Jacqui Rodgers
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Measurement Properties ◽  
Autism Spectrum Conditions ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Autistic Adults ◽  
Development And Validation

Abstract Background: Autistic people and those with high autistic traits are at high risk of experiencing suicidality. Yet, there are no suicidality assessment tools developed or validated for these groups.Methods: A widely used and validated suicidality assessment tool developed for the general population (SBQ-R), was adapted using feedback from autistic adults. The adapted tool was refined through 9 interviews, and an online survey with 251 autistic adults, to establish clarity and relevance of the items. Subsequently, 308 autistic, 113 possibly autistic, and 268 non-autistic adults completed the adapted tool online, alongside self-report measures of autistic traits (AQ), camouflaging autistic traits (CAT-Q), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (ASA-A), thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness (INQ-15), lifetime non-suicidal self-injury, and the original version of the suicidality assessment tool (SBQ-R). Analyses explored the appropriateness and measurement properties of the adapted tool between the groups.Results: There was evidence in support of content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity, test retest validity, sensitivity and specificity (for distinguishing those with or without lifetime experience of suicide attempt), and hypothesis testing of the adapted tool (SBQ-ASC) in each group. The structure of the SBQ-ASC was equivalent between autistic and possibly autistic adults, regardless of gender, or use of visual aids to help quantify abstract rating scales.Limitations: The samples involved in the development and validation of the adapted tool were largely female, and largely diagnosed as autistic in adulthood, which is not representative of the wider autistic population. The SBQ-ASC has been developed for use in research and is not recommended to assess risk of future suicide attempts and/or self-harm.Conclusions: The SBQ-ASC is a brief self-report suicidality assessment tool, developed and validated with and for autistic adults, without co-occurring intellectual disability. The SBQ-ASC is appropriate for use in research to identify suicidal thoughts and behaviours in autistic and possibly autistic people, and model associations with risk and protective factors.

scholarly journals Is Well-Being Associated with the Quantity and Quality of Social Interactions?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie Sun ◽  
Kelci Harris ◽  
Simine Vazire
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Method Evidence ◽  
The Moment

Social relationships are often touted as critical for well-being. However, the vast majority of studies on social relationships have relied on self-report measures of both social interactions and well-being, which makes it difficult to disentangle true associations from shared method variance. To address this gap, we assessed the quantity and quality of social interactions using both self-report and observer-based measures in everyday life. Participants (N = 256, 3,206 observations) wore the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), an unobtrusive audio recorder, and completed experience sampling method (ESM) self-reports of their momentary social interactions, happiness, and feelings of social connectedness, four times each day for one week. Observers rated the quantity and quality of participants’ social interactions based on the EAR recordings from the same time points. Quantity of social interactions was robustly associated with greater well-being in the moment and on average, whether they were measured with self-reports or observer reports. Conversational (conversational depth and self-disclosure) and relational (knowing and liking one’s interaction partners) aspects of social interaction quality were also generally associated with greater well-being, but the effects were larger and more consistent for self-reported (vs. observer-reported) quality variables, within-person (vs. between-person) associations, and for predicting social connectedness (vs. happiness). Finally, although most associations were similar for introverts and extraverts, our exploratory results suggest that introverts may experience greater boosts in social connectedness, relative to extraverts, when engaging in deeper conversations. This study provides compelling multi-method evidence supporting the link between more frequent and deeper social interactions and well-being.

scholarly journals The Impact of Schizotypy on Quality of Life Among Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albin Klang ◽  
Britta Westerberg ◽  
Mats B. Humble ◽  
Susanne Bejerot
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Schizotypal Personality ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizotypal personality disorder can be difficult to distinguish. Deficits in social relationships and social interaction, present in both conditions, are known to impair quality of life. The aim of the present study was to investigate if schizotypal symptoms affect quality of life among adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and to study the association between schizotypy and autistic traits among them. Methods: Participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (n=110) completed questionnaires exploring schizotypy (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire – Brief Revised (SPQ-BR)), autistic traits (The Ritvo Autism, Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised Screen 14 items), anxiety and depression (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale) and quality of life (Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Scale and the European quality of life index version 5D). Results: Schizotypy was found to be associated with anxiety, depressive and autistic symptoms, and poor quality of life. Although schizotypy was a predictor for impaired quality of life, this relationship was mediated by symptoms of anxiety and depression, plausibly inherent to autism. Autistic traits were positively associated with all higher order constructs of the SPQ-BR, i.e. positive and negative schizotypy, disorganization and social anxiety, as well as with poor quality of life. Conclusions: There is considerable overlap between schizotypy and autism that needs to be considered in research. Prominent schizotypal traits in people with ASD may constitute an endophenotype coinciding with a particularly poor quality of life.

scholarly journals Current and Lifetime Somatic Symptom Burden Among Transition-aged Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary J Williams ◽  
Katherine O Gotham
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
General Population ◽  
Somatic Symptom ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Clinical Correlates

Background and Objectives: Somatic symptoms are the most common cause of outpatient medical visits in the general population, yet their presence and severity in individuals on the autism spectrum has rarely been studied. We sought to assess the prevalence, impact, and clinical correlates of fourteen commonly-reported somatic symptoms in a sample of transition-aged autistic young adults. Methods: A sample of 290 independent and cognitively able autistic young adults (aged 18-26 years; mean [SD]: 23.10 [2.38] years) was recruited from the Simons Foundation SPARK participant pool. A modified version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 was used to assess somatic symptom prevalence/impact, along with measures of depression, anxiety, autistic traits, and quality of life. Results: Somatic symptom burden was much higher in autistic young adults than previously reported in the general population. The most commonly reported current symptoms were fatigue (72.8%), sleep problems (69.0%), and menstrual problems (61.4% of females). Moderate or severe symptom levels were reported by 53.9% of females and 18.75% of males in our cohort, with the odds of females of endorsing any given symptom being 2-4 times greater than males. Both individual symptoms and total symptom burden were related to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and autistic traits, along with lower quality of life. Conclusion: Despite little research on this topic previously, somatic symptoms are highly prevalent in autistic young adults, particularly women. Future research is needed to investigate links between somatic symptoms, medical and psychiatric morbidity, and health care utilization in the autistic population. What's Known on This Subject Somatic symptoms are highly prevalent in the general population and account for a large proportion of health system visits and health care costs. However, few studies have investigated the prevalence, impact, or correlates of these symptoms in individuals on the autism spectrum. What This Study Adds To our knowledge, this is the first study to specifically assess current and lifetime somatic symptom burden, symptom onset patterns, and the clinical correlates of multisystem symptom distress in transition-aged young adults on the autism spectrum.

scholarly journals A-203 Method Matters: Measures of Social Communication Ability Disagree in Women with Autistic Traits

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 998-998
Author(s):  
Beck J ◽  
South M ◽  
Gabrielsen T ◽  
Cox J ◽  
Lundwall R
Keyword(s):  
Social Communication ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Self Report ◽  
University Counseling Center ◽  
Severe Impairment ◽  
Social Difficulties ◽  
Communication Ability ◽  
Multi Method Approach

Abstract Objective Increasing evidence suggests that many women with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be undiagnosed and thus denied access to supports and interventions. Evaluating suspected ASD involves assessing social communication abilities, and many potentially helpful tools exist. We sought to compare various social communication measures (self-report, clinician-rated, and behavioral) in a sample of women with autistic traits. Method Our sample includes women without intellectual impairment (N = 66; age M = 25 years; IQ M = 114; 63 White) who reported impairing symptoms associated with ASD (BAPQ total score > 3). One third (n = 22) had been diagnosed with ASD. Participants were recruited through local clinics, a university counseling center, and social media. Participants completed the SRS-2 (self-report), ADOS-2 (clinician rating of autistic traits), and TASIT-S (video-based test of social cognition). Results As expected, women with a previous diagnosis of ASD showed significantly more social communication difficulties on the ADOS-2, t(64) = −4.88, p < .001, and TASIT-S, t(64) = 2.23, p = .03. Observable social difficulties on the ADOS-2 were significantly associated with poor performance on the TASIT-S (rS = −.27, p = .03). However, women with an ASD diagnosis did not report more social communication problems on the SRS-2, and SRS-2 scores were not associated with ADOS-2 or TASIT-S scores. Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of using a multi-method approach when assessing social communication abilities in women with suspected autism, as self-report measures may not discriminate well mild from more severe impairment, and may disagree with clinician ratings and/or behavioral measures.

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