Developmental trajectories of adaptive behavior in autism spectrum disorder: a high‐risk sibling cohort

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 697-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori‐Ann R. Sacrey ◽  
Lonnie Zwaigenbaum ◽  
Susan Bryson ◽  
Jessica Brian ◽  
Isabel M. Smith ◽  
...  
Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110240
Author(s):  
Nicole E Rosen ◽  
James B McCauley ◽  
Catherine Lord

Siblings play an important role in shaping the developmental trajectories of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Having siblings has been associated with better social communication, non-verbal communication, and theory of mind abilities in autism spectrum disorder. However, little is known about the impact of siblings on adaptive skill growth over time, even though adaptive behavior competencies are among the strongest predictors of positive outcomes in autism spectrum disorder. This study examined the influence of sibling constellation factors, including the presence of siblings, position in birth order, gender of closest-age sibling, and gender match of sibling dyad on the adaptive behavior trajectories of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and non-spectrum disorders from ages 9 to 26 years. Participants with one or more siblings experienced faster growth rates in adaptive behavior from childhood to adulthood than participants without siblings across both Black and White participants, although effects were magnified in Black participants. Furthermore, among participants with siblings, those with male closest-age siblings and those with gender-matched siblings, irrespective of birth order, demonstrated the steepest adaptive skill growth within their respective groups over the 17-year period. Results suggest that siblings may serve an important role in improving the adaptive functioning trajectories and overall outcomes of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Lay abstract Siblings have the potential to shape the developmental trajectories of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Having siblings has been associated with better social communication skills, less severe non-verbal communication deficits, and improved theory of mind abilities in autism spectrum disorder. This study examined the influence of the presence of a sibling, participant’s position in the birth order, gender of the closest-age sibling, and gender match of the sibling dyad on the rate of growth in adaptive skills from ages 9 to 26 years among individuals with autism spectrum disorder and individuals with a history of non-spectrum developmental disorders. While all participants showed consistent gains in adaptive skill development as a function of age, there was variability in rates of growth based on sibling constellation group membership. Participants with at least one sibling, regardless of other sibling constellation factors, experienced greater rates of growth in adaptive behavior trajectories from childhood to adulthood than participants with no siblings across both Black and White participants, although differences were magnified in Black participants. Furthermore, among participants with siblings, those with male closest-age siblings and those with gender-matched siblings, irrespective of birth order position, demonstrated the steepest growth patterns in adaptive functioning within their respective groups over the 17-year period. Results suggest that siblings may serve an important role in improving the adaptive functioning trajectories and overall outcomes of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1726
Author(s):  
Leonardo Zoccante ◽  
Michele Marconi ◽  
Marco Luigi Ciceri ◽  
Silvia Gagliardoni ◽  
Luigi Alberto Gozzi ◽  
...  

Equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) have been suggested to improve adaptive behavior, and possibly motor function, in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study investigated the effects of EAAT on adaptive behavior and motor function in 15 children with ASD (13 males) aged 7–15 years as well as the impact of EAAT on the magnitude of stress in the parent–child system and the evolution in the child interaction with both the trained therapist and the therapeutic animal through the 20 weekly sessions of EAAT. EAAT were associated with greater adaptive behavior and coordination (all p ≤ 0.01) as well as a progressive improvement in the child’s abilities to respond to the increasing complexity of such form of positive behavioral support (all p < 0.001). However, EAAT did not prove to be effective in reducing parental distress. Collectively, preliminary evidence presented here may have important public health implications and gives reason to hope that EAAT could possibly be an effective option in ASD, warranting further investigation of its potential benefits in clinical trials among larger samples.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Smily Jesupriya Victor Paulraj ◽  
Siti Nur Azalia Mohamad Salleh ◽  
Jayachandran Vetrayan

This study aimed to examine the parental occupation in pre and post-natal among Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and to identify the desired factors to work. The 124 samples ages between 26 to 52 years old including 59 males and 65 females from 5 difference rehabilitation centres were recruited. A self-rated parental occupation questionnaire was used to measure. Finding shows the parent who works in the high professionals and technicals has a high risk of having ASD. The factors which contribute to the desired parents to work in that field are earning more money, knowledge development and satisfying basic needs.© 2016. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.Keywords: Parental occupation; Autism spectrum disorder; Prenatal; Post-natal


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