Individual and Environmental Factors Affecting Adaptive Behavior of Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Role of Parents’ Socio-cultural Level

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 51; no. 10; pp. 3469 - 3482
• Main Authors: Balboni, Giulia, Bacherini, Alice, Rebecchini, Gessica, Cagiano, Romina, Mancini, Alice, Tancredi, Raffaella, Igliozzi, Roberta, Muratori, Filippo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.10.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adaptive behavior; Adjustment (Psychology); Adjustment (to Environment); Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - diagnosis; Autism Spectrum Disorder - epidemiology; Behavior Rating Scales; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Check Lists; Child and School Psychology; Child Behavior; Child Behavior Checklist; Child development; Child, Preschool; Comorbidity; Cultural Capital; Demographic aspects; Diagnosis; Diagnostic Tests; Environmental aspects; Environmental effects; Environmental factors; Fathers; Female; Foreign Countries; Health aspects; Humans; Influences; Male; Males; Men; Mental development; Mothers; Neurosciences; Observation; Original Paper; Parents; Parents & parenting; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Psychological aspects; Psychology; Public Health; Social aspects; Social Capital; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomic Status; Socioeconomics; Toddlers; Italy; Socio-Economic Status; Toddler; Cultural capital; Parent; Social capital; Adaptive behavior
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04803-x

The effects of environmental factors [including Socio-Economic Status, Cultural Capital, and Social Capital (Socio-Cultural Level) of both parents] on the Vineland-II adaptive behavior dimensions of toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in addition to individual factors, was investigated in 148 Italian toddlers (82% males), aged 18 to 37 months with ASD. Toddlers’ age and Griffiths Mental Development Scales general development affected all of the adaptive behavior dimensions, with negative and positive associations, respectively. The Child Behavior Checklist comorbid conditions were negatively associated with some adaptive behavior dimensions while the ADOS-2 Social affect only with the communication dimension. Mothers’ and fathers’ specific Socio-Cultural Level dimensions were positively associated with toddlers’ specific adaptive behavior dimensions with the same magnitude as comorbid conditions.