Peer Relationships in Children with Williams Syndrome: Parent and Teacher Insights

Gillooly, Amanda; Riby, Deborah M.; Durkin, Kevin; Rhodes, Sinéad

doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04503-6

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…These children were also reported by their parents to be able to sustain reciprocal conversations with their peers and to exercise an awareness of social norms and boundaries within their peer interactions. This suggests, in line with previous evidence by Gillooly et al (2020), that these social functioning skills play a key role in the friendships of children with WS. These reports build on previous findings on the heterogeneous nature of cognition and behaviour in WS (Little et al, 2013;Porter & Coltheart., 2005).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Friendships in Children with Williams Syndrome: Parent and Child Perspectives

Gillooly

Riby

Durkin

et al. 2022

J Autism Dev Disord

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Although children with Williams syndrome (WS) are strongly socially motivated, many have friendship difficulties. The parents of 21 children with WS and 20 of the children themselves participated in a semi-structured interview about the children’s friendships. Parents reported that their child had difficulties sustaining friendships and low levels of interaction with peers. Barriers to friendships included difficulties with play and self-regulating behaviour. However, there was within-group variability, with a small number of children reported to have strong friendships. While parents reported friendship challenges, all of the children named at least one friend, and most said that they had never felt excluded by their peers. Future research is needed to determine optimal ways to support children with WS in their friendships.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Friendships in Children with Williams Syndrome: Parent and Child Perspectives

Gillooly

Riby

Durkin

et al. 2022

J Autism Dev Disord

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“…Interestingly, the social behavioral phenotype of those with WSS are in part similar to another neurogenetic condition, Williams syndrome, a disorder caused by a deletion on the long arm of chromosome 7 (7q11.23). Those with Williams syndrome are characterized by intellectual impairment or developmental delay, overly friendly and gregarious behaviors, high approachability and reduced stranger danger awareness, and aberrations in processing of social versus non‐social information (Järvinen‐Pasley et al, 2008), all of which leaves these individuals socially vulnerable (Jawaid et al, 2012) and at risk for peer relationship challenges (e.g., maintaining friendships, social exclusion) (Gillooly et al, 2021). Although cross‐syndrome comparisons between those with Williams syndrome and ASD have shown contrasting phenotypes in social affiliative nature (interest in interacting with others) and face processing, commonalities in social communication and cognitive deficits have been reported (Asada & Itakura, 2012; Barak & Feng, 2016; Klein‐Tasman et al, 2009), highlighting the importance of comprehensive ASD evaluations and caution against diagnostic overshadowing given high co‐occurrence with intellectual disability or developmental delay (Klein‐Tasman et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The social phenotype associated with Wiedemann‐Steiner syndrome: Autistic traits juxtaposed with high social drive and prosociality

Kalinousky

Fahrner

et al. 2023

American J of Med Genetics Pt A

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The aim of this study was to provide a descriptive overview of the social characteristics associated with Wiedemann‐Steiner syndrome (WSS). A total of 24 parents of children/adults with WSS (11F, mean age = 12.94 years, SD = 8.00) completed the Social Responsiveness Scale 2nd Edition (SRS‐2); Colorado Learning Difficulties Questionnaire (CLDQ) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Almost half our sample reported a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 70% had intellectual disability. On the SDQ, over 90% of participants were rated in borderline/clinical ranges in Peer Problems, yet the majority fell within normal limits in Prosocial Behaviors. Most fell in the moderate/severe difficulties ranges across SRS‐2 Social Cognition, Communication, and Restricted/Repetitive Behaviors scales (all >70%); whereas substantially less participants met these ranges for deficits in Social Awareness (50%) and Social Motivation (33.33%). A pattern of relatively strong prosocial skills and social drive in the context of difficulties with inflexible behaviors, social cognition, and communication was observed, regardless of gender, ASD or intellectual disability diagnosis. The social phenotype associated with WSS is characterized by some autistic features paired with unusually high social motivation and prosocial tendencies.

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“…A recent study conducted by Hirai et al [16 && ] contributes cross-cultural data to the stability of the social phenotype of Williams syndrome. The established literature has consistently demonstrated socio-communicative atypicalities in both children [7,8] and adults [14] Another recent study has provided more detailed information on eye gaze in Williams syndrome [17 && ]. Compared to previous work that demonstrated prolonged eye and face gaze in Williams syndrome [18,19], this study, which cued participants to fixate on either the eye or mouth region over 60, 1.5-s trials of face viewing, revealed two novel findings [17 && ].…”

Section: Social Phenotype and Social Skills Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The social phenotype of Williams syndrome, including strong affiliative drive, friendliness, and enjoyment of social interactions, juxtaposed with weaknesses in certain aspects of social cognition, are well documented [5][6][7]. This unique social profile often results in social vulnerability which can manifest in several ways, including gullibility, difficulty sustaining friendships, loneliness, and peer exclusion [8]. High rates of anxiety disorders in Williams syndrome, well beyond the expected baseline rate seen in individuals with other causes of intellectual disability, have also been established [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychiatric and behavioral manifestations of Williams syndrome

Thom

2023

Current Opinion in Psychiatry

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Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to synthesize recent advances in the psychiatric and behavioral manifestations of Williams syndrome, a rare genetic syndrome. Recent advances have focused on more deeply characterizing the social phenotype and developing social skill interventions, improving the assessment and treatment of anxiety, and exploring eating behaviors. Recent findings The social cognitive phenotype in Williams syndrome, which consists of both high social drive and social cognition deficits, is present cross-culturally and may be related to reduced eye gaze. Social skills training for adults with Williams syndrome has demonstrated promise. Adapted exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy programs for children and adults respectively, have been piloted in Williams syndrome. The majority of adults with Williams syndrome are either underweight or overweight, and problematic food-related behaviors likely contribute to bodyweight status. Summary Williams syndrome is associated with a number of core social and psychiatric difficulties which have a significant impact on functioning and quality of life. Recent work has begun to utilize a more nuanced understanding of the clinical presentations of these problems to develop interventions tailored to this unique population. However, larger trials, particularly those inclusive of a more diverse Williams syndrome population, are needed.

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Peer Relationships in Children with Williams Syndrome: Parent and Teacher Insights

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Cited by 13 publications

References 37 publications

Friendships in Children with Williams Syndrome: Parent and Child Perspectives

Friendships in Children with Williams Syndrome: Parent and Child Perspectives

The social phenotype associated with Wiedemann‐Steiner syndrome: Autistic traits juxtaposed with high social drive and prosociality

Psychiatric and behavioral manifestations of Williams syndrome

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