1. Calder L, Hill V, Pellicano E. {{‘Sometimes I want to play by myself’: Understanding what friendship means to children with autism in mainstream primary schools}}. {Autism};2012 (Nov 27)
Research has shown that friendship impacts the overall experience of mainstream school for autistic children. Using a unique combination of quantitative, qualitative and social network methods, we investigated the extent and nature of autistic children’s friendships from their perspective and from those of their mothers, teachers and classroom peers. Consistent with previous research, children with autism (n = 12), aged between 9 and 11 years, rated their friendships to be of poorer quality than their non-autistic classroom peers (n = 11). There was, however, much variability in autistic children’s ratings, which, unexpectedly, was related to neither children’s cognitive ability nor their theory of mind ability. Encouragingly, the children generally reported satisfaction with their friendships, and although no child was socially isolated, the degree of inclusion in friendship networks varied widely. Furthermore, autistic children’s social motivation emerged as a key factor in parents’ and teachers’ reports in determining both the nature and extent of their friendships. Adults played an active role in supporting children’s friendships, but this sometimes conflicted with what the children wanted. These findings highlight the need to ascertain the perspectives of young people with autism on their friendships and to consider the social and ethical implications of when and how to intervene.
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2. Klusek J, Losh M, Martin GE. {{Sex differences and within-family associations in the broad autism phenotype}}. {Autism};2012 (Nov 27)
While there is a strong sex bias in the presentation of autism, it is unknown whether this bias is also present in subclinical manifestations of autism among relatives, or the broad autism phenotype. This study examined this question and investigated patterns of co-occurrence of broad autism phenotype traits within families of individuals with autism. Pragmatic language and personality features of the broad autism phenotype were studied in 42 fathers and 50 mothers of individuals with autism using direct assessment tools used in prior family studies of the broad autism phenotype. Higher rates of aloof personality style were detected among fathers, while no sex differences were detected for other broad autism phenotype traits. Within individuals, pragmatic language features were associated with the social personality styles of the broad autism phenotype in mothers but not in fathers. A number of broad autism phenotype features were correlated within spousal pairs. Finally, the associations were detected between paternal broad autism phenotype characteristics and the severity of children’s autism symptoms in all three domains (social, communication, and repetitive behaviors). Mother-child correlations were detected for aspects of communication only. Together, the findings suggest that most features of the broad autism phenotype express comparably in males and females and raise some specific questions about how such features might inform studies of the genetic basis of autism.
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3. Kuenssberg R, Murray AL, Booth T, McKenzie K. {{Structural validation of the abridged Autism Spectrum Quotient-Short Form in a clinical sample of people with autism spectrum disorders}}. {Autism};2012 (Nov 27)
The primary aim of this article was to provide a structural validation of the 28-item Autism Spectrum Quotient-Short Form questionnaire in a sample of adults with clinically diagnosed autism spectrum disorders (n = 148). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the proposed structure, comprising a second-order Social Skills factor subsuming first-order factors of Social Skills, Routine, Switching and Imagination, and a Numbers/Patterns factor showed good acceptable fit to the data (chi(2) = 464.27(345), p < .05; comparative fit index = .91; Tucker Lewis index = .90; root mean squared error of approximation = .048; weighted root mean square residual = 0.98). Summed mean scores for the total sample, and males and females separately, showed no significant differences to previously reported means, with the exception of Numbers/Patterns, for which the current sample reported significantly lower means in both males (t = 3.37, p < 0.001) and females (t = 2.33, p < 0.05). The results provide support for both the proposed structure of the AQ-S and the stability of total and subscale mean scores in different samples of participants with autism spectrum disorder diagnoses.
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4. Nahmias AS, Kase C, Mandell DS. {{Comparing cognitive outcomes among children with autism spectrum disorders receiving community-based early intervention in one of three placements}}. {Autism};2012 (Nov 27)
Little comparative research examines which community-based preschool intervention placements produce the best outcomes for which children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism-specific placements can provide intensive evidence-based care; however, inclusion settings provide interaction with typically developing peers, the importance of which is increasingly recognized. This study examined the association between early intervention placement in three settings (autism-only, mixed disability, or inclusive) and cognitive outcomes upon entry into elementary school in an urban school district for 98 preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorders. Initial child and demographic characteristics were similar among the three placements. Controlling for initial cognitive scores and other covariates, cognitive outcomes for children in inclusive placements were better than those of children in mixed disability settings. A consistent pattern emerged that suggested the particular importance of inclusive placements for children with initially greater social impairments, greater adaptive behavior impairments, and at least a baseline level of language skills. Opportunities to interact with typically developing peers may be particularly beneficial for certain subgroups of young children with autism spectrum disorders. The results provide preliminary insight into important child characteristics to consider when parents and providers make preschool early intervention placement decisions.
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5. Webster AA, Carter M. {{A descriptive examination of the types of relationships formed between children with developmental disability and their closest peers in inclusive school settings}}. {J Intellect Dev Disabil};2012 (Nov 27)
Background One of the most commonly cited rationales for inclusive education is to enable the development of quality relationships with typically developing peers. Relatively few researchers have examined the features of the range of relationships that children with developmental disability form in inclusive school settings. Method Interviews were conducted with 25 children with developmental disability, aged 5 and 12 years, their 3 closest peers, and parents and teachers to examine 6 types of relationships. Results Behaviours associated with general friendship and acquaintance were the most commonly reported. Few dyads reported high rates of behaviour associated with special treatment, helping, ignoring, or intimate best friend relationships. Conclusions The relationships of the majority of dyads were characterised by friendship or acceptance, but evidence of more intimate relationships was limited. An important direction for future research is the examination of ways to encourage more intimate relationships.
