The behavioral problems of children with autism and their parents' autistic trait and their relationship with the family function

Abstract

Objective To explore the behavioral problems of autistic children and their parents' autistic trait and the relationship with the family function. Methods A total of 29 autism families were from West China Hospital from July 2014 to September 2015, and 30 normal families were recruited as the controls. Every family had one child and a pair of parents. All the parents were asked to finish the Autism Spectrum Quotient(AQ), and the mothers were asked to finish the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist Quality (CBCL)and Family Assessment Device (FAD). Additionally, the autistic children's primary caregivers also received an autism diagnostic interview to provide the details of the autistic features of their children. For the research, rank sun test, t-test, chi-square test and Spearman correlation analysis were used. Results (1)The general average score of each dimension in FAD for autistic families was significantly higher than that for control families(Z=- 5.368--3.037, P<0.01);AQ social skills of fathers of autistic children was higher than that of controls'(3.86±1.43 vs. 2.73±1.20; Z=- 3.109, P<0.01) .AQ social skills (3.66±1.26 vs. 2.23±1.25)and communication (2.72±1.75 vs. 1.57±1.38) of mothers of autistic children was significantly higher than that of controls' (Z=- 3.151,-2.231, both P<0.05). The subscales of social problems, compulsive, withdraw and hyperactivity of the autistic children was significantly higher than that of the controls(Z=-4.554, -3.872, -5.260, -3.764, all P<0.01). (2) The CBCL subscales of autistic children (schizoidia and total scores) and the FAD total scores was positively correlated (r=0.712, 0.657, both P< 0.01), and compulsive cores, AQ communication of mothers of autistic children and AQ social skills of fathers and FAD problem solving was positively correlated (r=0.626, 0.580, 0.574, all P<0.01). Conclusions Autistic children's family function exists many problems, which may be correlated with autistic children's behavioral problems and parents' autistic trait, especially problem solving domain. Key words: Autistic disorder; Child Behavior; Family; Autistic trait