The Relationship Between Pragmatic Language, Peer Relations, and Socioemotional Functioning in High-Functioning Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Background: High-functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may have a normative verbal performance on general tests of intelligence. However, these individuals continue to experience a wide variety of difficulties pertaining to the social uses of language. Although research has investigated how deficits in pragmatic language impede relationships, there has been no research investigating the broader repercussions of poor social communication. Objectives: This research study aims to examine the relationship between pragmatic language, socioemotional adjustment, and peer-inflicted victimization. Specifically, we are investigating if poor pragmatic language and maladaptive behaviours are related to an increase in the incidence of peer-inflicted victimization for school-age individuals with high-functioning autism and Asperger syndrome. Furthermore, we are predicting that this victimization will be related to poorer socioemotional adjustment. It is our hope that this research will be used to inform social skills intervention and increase public awareness regarding peer-inflicted victimization in the ASD community. Methods: The study is examining high-functioning participants, ages 10 to18, with a diagnosed ASD. Standardized tests are being utilized to assess the variables and confirm diagnosis. The order of tests is counter balanced. A typically developing control group is matched in regards to age, sex, and IQ. Participants are completing a battery of standardized tests in two 60-90 minute sessions in the laboratory. Results: To analyze the data, we will conduct a mediated regression analysis. We hypothesize that there will be a significant relationship between deficits in pragmatic language and poor socioemotional functioning, controlling for the variance attributed to participants' adaptive behaviour. We predict that this relationship will be significantly mediated by incidence of peer-inflicted victimization. Conclusions: No published research to date has investigated peer-inflicted victimization in adolescents with ASD. We hope that this study will begin to address the predictors and consequences of victimization in individuals with ASD.