Predicting Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Children with ASD: Evaluation of a Contextual Model of Parental Factors

Association among internalizing problems, white matter integrity, and social difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social difficulties and often accompanied by internalizing and externalizing problems, which are frequently overlooked. Here, we examined and compared fractional anisotropy (FA) between 79 children with ASD (aged 4-7.8 years) and 70 age-, gender-, and handedness- matched typically developing controls (TDCs, aged 3-7.2 years). We aimed to explore the relationship among social difficulties, internalizing and externalizing problems, and brain structural foundation (characterized by white matter integrity). Compared with the TDCs, the children with ASD exhibited more severe internalizing and externalizing problems, which were positively correlated with social difficulties. Reduced FA values were observed in specific white matter tracts that integrate a fronto-temporal-occipital circuit. In particular, the FA values within this circuit were negatively correlated with internalizing problems and SRS-TOTAL scores. Mediation analysis revealed that internalizing problems mediated the relationship between the FA values in the left middle longitudinal fasciculus (L-MdLF) and corpus callosum forceps major (CCM) and social difficulties in children with ASD. These findings contribute to our understanding of social difficulties, internalizing and externalizing problems, and white matter integrity in children with ASD and highlight internalizing problems as a mediator between social difficulties and white matter integrity.

Parenting Practices and Externalizing Behaviors in Autistic Children: A Systematic Literature Review

There is limited recent research on the association between parenting practices and externalizing behaviors in autistic children. To address this gap, the current systematic review examined the associations between parenting practices and externalizing behaviors in autistic children, along with the mediating and moderating effects of parent and child variables (PROSPERO registration number CRD42022268667). Study inclusion criteria were (1) Peer-reviewed journals, (2) Participants included parents of autistic children and their children, (3) Quantitative measures of both parenting practices or behaviors/style and child externalizing behaviors, (4) Cross-sectional or longitudinal studies only, and (5) Studies published in English. Study exclusion criteria were: (1) Qualitative studies, (2) Published in a language other than English, (3) Participants included non-human participants, (4) Participants that did not include parents and their autistic children as participants or did not report this group separately, (5) Systematic review and meta-analyses, and (6) No quantitative measures of parenting practices and/or child externalizing behaviors. Quality appraisal and risk of bias were conducted using the McMaster Tool and results were synthesized in Covidence and Excel. Thirty studies were included in the review. Results demonstrated that mindful parenting was associated with fewer or lower levels of externalizing behaviors; positive parenting practices had non-significant associations with externalizing behaviors; specific parenting practices had differing associations with externalizing behaviors; and negative parenting practices were associated with higher levels of externalizing behaviors. We are unable to draw causal relationships due to focus on cross-sectional and longitudinal articles only. The potential for future research to target specific parent practices to support children's externalizing behaviors is discussed.

Harsh Parenting and Trajectories of Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties in Autistic Children

Autistic children show higher rates of co-occurring emotional and behavioural difficulties compared to other children in the general population. However, the environmental factors which contribute to the development of emotional (internalising) and behavioural (externalising) difficulties in autistic individuals are poorly understood. This study sought to investigate the association between harsh parenting (smacking, shouting, telling off) and the trajectories of emotional and behavioural difficulties in autistic children from ages 3 to 7. A sample comprising of 349 autistic children participated from the UK's Millennium Cohort Study. Associations between harsh parenting and child emotional and behavioural difficulties were modelled using multilevel growth curve models. In autistic children, harsh parenting was associated with total emotional and behavioural difficulties and behavioural (but not emotional) problems concurrently. Moreover, harsh parenting was not associated with changes in emotional and behavioural difficulties over time. Harsh parenting may have an important role in externalising problems in young autistic children indicating the need for public health strategies which educate parents on its effects.

Factors influencing the mental health of autistic children and teenagers: Parents' observations and experiences

LAY ABSTRACT

Autistic people are more likely to experience mental health difficulties compared to neurotypical people. It is very important that we understand what increases the risk for mental health difficulties, and what helps to protect against them. So far, research on this for children and young people has only investigated a small number of factors and these have been chosen by researchers and clinicians. This study took a different approach in which parents' expertise in their children was recognised. Parents were asked to tell the story of their autistic teenagers' mental health from diagnosis in early childhood through to the present, and to explain the 'theories' they developed about what affected their child's mental health - positively and negatively - and how. Parents believed a wide range of factors played a role. These include: (1) aspects of their child (e.g. their autistic traits, intelligence); (2) aspects of their surroundings (e.g. the efforts parents make to prevent and respond to their child's difficulties, features of the school they attend, availability of social activities); (3) changes their child experienced growing up (e.g. puberty, awareness of being autistic); and (4) life events involving loss and separation. Many of the factors parents identified as important have received little or no research attention to date. The findings suggest issues that should be considered in future research and reveal ways that support for parents and autistic children and teenagers can be improved.

Evaluation of the Effect of a Serious Game on the Performance of Daily Routines by Autistic and ADHD Children

Objectives

Learning and performing new routines are difficult for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Studies have shown that consistency in child reinforcement and parental support are effective. For example, digital solutions such as serious games can be used to support parents and children in developing these life skills. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a serious game on the performance of daily routines by autistic and ADHD children.

Methods

A total of 201 families (parents and children) participated in the study. The study used a combined 3 (intervention) × 3 (diagnosis) × 3 (time) research design with repeated measures. Participants were randomly assigned to three intervention groups (serious game, parental support, and a combination of serious game and parental support) based on their diagnosis (ASD, ADHD, neurotypical). Latent growth modeling and repeated ANOVAS were performed to analyze routine scores collected at three moments (baseline, midpoint, persistence) over an 8-week period.

Results

Results show a moderating effect of diagnosis on child routine trajectory. For ADHD participants, we observed a very important significant clinical effect for two interventions (parental support alone and combination of serious game and parental support) where for ASD children, this effect is observed for only one treatment (combination of serious game and parental support). For neurotypical children, results indicate a very important and significant clinical effect when they use the serious game alone.

Conclusions

Results show that the serious game can improve children's routines. However, for some neurodevelopmental profiles (ASD or ADHD), the addition of parental support produces greater clinical improvements.

Parental Depression Symptoms and Internalizing Mental Health Problems in Autistic Children

Autistic youth are at risk for internalizing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Similarly, parents of autistic youth report higher levels of depression than parents of typically developing children. The goal of this study was to examine bidirectional associations between parent depression symptoms and the internalizing problems of autistic youth in 188 families across four time points (T1-T4; spaced 12 months apart). A cross-lagged panel model revealed that mother (T1 and T2) and father (T1) depression symptoms positively predicted the youth's internalizing problems 12 months later. The youth's internalizing problems at T3 positively predicted maternal depression symptoms at T4. Future research should explore genetic and environmental pathways that link parent depression and internalizing problems in autistic youth.

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

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.

Direct, Indirect, and Buffering Effect of Social Support on Parental Involvement Among Chinese Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Parental involvement plays a pivotal role in promoting developmental and educational outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study aimed to examine the relationships between social support, parenting stress, and parental involvement by investigating a sample of 245 Chinese parents of children with ASD. Mediation analyses indicated that the relationships between support from family and friends and parental involvement were partially mediated by parenting stress, and support from significant others was directly, positively related to parental involvement. Additionally, support from family and friends moderated the influence of parenting stress on parental involvement in their children's education. The direct, indirect, and buffering effects of social support on parental involvement were discussed finally.

Comorbid Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms Among Children with ADHD: The Influence of Parental Distress, Parenting Practices, and Child Routines

Emotional/behavioral concerns are common among children with ADHD. Familial factors (e.g., parental adjustment, parenting behaviors) are linked to the presence of comorbid internalizing/externalizing symptoms among children with ADHD. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a model that includes multiple familial variables and their direct and indirect effects on child emotional and behavioral problems among children with ADHD. Participants included parents of children (6-12 years of age; M = 8.87, SD = 1.92) with a diagnosis of ADHD (N = 300). Participants completed measures of child emotional/behavioral concerns, parental distress, routines, and parenting behaviors. Path analyses revealed direct effects for parental distress, parent behavior and routines on child adjustment, after controlling for the other variables. A significant indirect relation between parental distress, routines, and externalizing behavior was observed. These findings highlight one specific path through which parental distress appears to influence specific behavioral concerns that are commonly observed in children with ADHD.

A conceptual model of risk and protective factors associated with internalizing symptoms in autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review, synthesis, and call for more research

This paper reviews and synthesizes key areas of research related to the etiology, development, and maintenance of internalizing symptoms in children, adolescents, and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In developing an integrated conceptual model, we draw from current conceptual models of internalizing symptoms in ASD and extend the model to include factors related to internalizing within other populations (e.g., children that have experienced early life stress, children with other neurodevelopmental conditions, typically developing children) that have not been systematically examined in ASD. Our review highlights the need for more research to understand the developmental course of internalizing symptoms, potential moderators, and the interplay between early risk and protective factors. Longitudinal studies incorporating multiple methods and both environmental and biological factors will be important in order to elucidate these mechanisms.

Paediatric nurses' knowledge and experience of autism spectrum disorders: An Italian survey

Hospitalization of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is a challenge for paediatric nurses. The literature reveals a lack of knowledge among the clinical and behavioural characteristics of autism. The aim of the study is to investigate the knowledge of paediatric nurses about ASDs and their experience with children with ASD. Ninety-three nurses completed Knowledge About Childhood Autism Among Healthcare Workers questionnaire, a sociodemographic questionnaire and an open-ended questionnaire to evaluate the experience of nurses. Findings showed that nurses have a basic knowledge of ASD, except for comorbidity and onset of the ASD, in which they obtained lower scores. Older nurses and those who had more experience in a paediatric ward or with children with ASD showed higher scores. Analysis of the content of open-ended questionnaire showed that nurses have difficulties in managing the relationship with children with ASD, and that they wonder about how to improve it, seeking useful strategies for this purpose. During interactions, nurses experience mixed feelings such as sadness, suffering, uneasiness, inadequacy, displeasure, embarrassment and tenderness. They declare the need for more knowledge about ASD. They would like to improve their own capacity for interactions with these children, also through training.