Abstract
We investigated the relationships between Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores, adult attachment style (as assessed by the Internal Working Model [IWM] scale) scores, and social skills (as assessed by Kikuchi’s Scale of Social Skills [KiSS-18]) in university students who had no diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (N = 468). The AQ consists of five subscales: social skills, local details, attention switching, communication, and imagination. The IWM is composed of three subscales: secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment styles. The KiSS-18 is a single-factor model. First, we calculated the correlations between AQ, IWM, and KiSS-18 scores. Next, we examined the differences in each subscale score of the IWM between two groups defined by their AQ scores (High and Low AQ groups). We found that the High AQ had higher scores on the IWM secure subscale than did the Low AQ group. In addition, the High AQ group had lower scores on the IWM anxious and avoidant subscales than did the Low AQ group. Moreover, in the High AQ group, the secure style, but not the anxious and avoidant styles, modulated the KiSS-18 scores. The results of the present study add to existing knowledge of the relationships between autism spectrum tendency, adult attachment style, and social skills, and suggested that adult attachment styles (particularly the secure style) may play the role of mediator of social skill ability.
Highlights
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision; DSM-IV-TR, 2000), autism spectrum disorders are developmental disorders characterized by deficits of social interaction, communication, and a restricted range of interests
We examined the differences between males and females in the total Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores
Our present study investigated the relationships between the tendency for autism spectrum disorder, adult attachment styles, and social skills of university students with typical development by using a questionnaire method
Summary
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision; DSM-IV-TR, 2000), autism spectrum disorders are developmental disorders characterized by deficits of social interaction, communication, and a restricted range of interests. Attachment relationships provide an internal representation (internal working model [IWM]) that shows how others interact with the individual. People often derive their sense of self-efficacy from their IWM. The children are classified into one of three attachment styles: secure, anxious, or avoidant. A previous study (Van IJzendoorn, Goldberg, Kroonenberg, & Frenkl, 1992) indicated that 65%, 15%, and 20% of children are generally classified as having a secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment style, respectively
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