Investigating the Associations Between Child Autistic Symptoms, Socioeconomic Context, and Family Life: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objective: The day-to-day experience of families with an Autistic child may be shaped by both, child characteristics and available resources, which often are influenced by the socioeconomic context of the family. Using a socioecological approach, this study explored the quantitative associations between child autistic symptoms, family socioeconomic status, and family life.Methods: Data came from the Pediatric Autism Research Cohort—PARC Study (pilot). Parents of children with a recent diagnosis of autism completed a set of assessments, including the Autism Family Experience Questionnaire, Autism Impact Measure, and a Sociodemographic Questionnaire. A series of multiple, iterative linear regression models were constructed to ascertain quantitative associations between child autistic symptoms, socioeconomic context, and family life.Results: A total of 50 children (mean age: 76 months; SD: 9.5 months; and 84% male) with data on the variables of interest were included in the analysis. The frequency of child autistic symptoms was associated with family life outcomes (p = 0.02 and R2 = 24%). Once autistic symptom frequency, symptom impact, and sociodemographic variables were considered, parents of higher educational attainment reported worse family life outcomes compared to their lesser-educated counterparts. This cumulative regression model had considerable explanatory capability (p = 0.01, R2 = 40%).Conclusion: This study demonstrates the utility of using a socioecological approach to examine the dynamic interplay between child characteristics and family circumstances. Our findings suggest that family life for parents (of an autistic child) who have obtained higher education is reported (by the parents themselves) as less satisfactory compared to that of parents without higher education, once adjusted for the autistic symptom frequency of child, symptom impact, and income. These findings can inform the design and delivery of more family-centered care pathways during the years following a diagnosis of autism.

Detecting Time Concept Competence in Children with Autism Spectrum and Attention Disorders

“…A recent study 101 used a socioecological approach to investigate the impact of the serious challenges families face in trying to address their children’s Autism, a multifaceted disorder with many needs and behavior issues affecting their daily function at home, school, and recreation. A statistically significant relationship occurred between autism impact measures and level of dissatisfaction with family life as both children and parents were negatively impacted by their stressful experiences.…”

Adaptación del instrumento Autism Impact Measure al servicio de psiquiatría y psicología infantojuvenil del hospital clínic de Barcelona: un estudio Delphi

“…Se estableció un estudio Delphi modificado para continuar estableciendo qué aspectos de las adaptaciones debían mejorarse y recoger opiniones acerca de la validez y forma de administración del instrumento. Aunque no existen unos criterios exhaustivos sobre cómo debe aplicarse la metodología Delphi, se siguieron recomendaciones descritas en la literatura; se sugiere establecer entre dos y tres rondas de consulta para evitar un gran número de abandonos (22)(23)(24); se propone que los grupos de expertos ronden entre 5 y 20 expertos, y que exista cierta heterogeneidad entre los participantes (24).…”

“…Además, un estudio evaluó recientemente su sensibilidad al cambio de frecuencia e intensidad de síntomas TEA, con resultados indicando que el instrumento puede detectar dichos cambios durante la intervención (19). El AIM se ha utilizado en población anglosajona para evaluar sintomatología e impacto de síntomas TEA (20)(21)(22), pero hasta la fecha no se han realizado validaciones del instrumento en otras poblaciones o idiomas.…”