Perceptual Differences Between Young Adults with Autism and Their Parents

Background:  Compared with their parents, children, adolescents, and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) tend to report more positive perceptions regarding skills and fewer endorsements of impairments. Lack of parent-child agreement has been attributed to the child’s lack of self-awareness and poor perspective taking, externalizing behaviors that may stress parents, and possible poor self-control and self-presentation in familiar familial settings. Whatever the case, little is known about the variables that contribute to parent-child perceptual differences of strengths and impairments among young adults with ASD.

Objectives:  This study examined the differences in perceptions of social functioning among young adults with ASD and their parents. In order to investigate the accuracy of rater report and variables that may interfere with parent-child perceptual understanding, possible factors that might influence reporting were also examined.

Methods:  Thirty-six young adults with ASD (ages 18 to 24 with a mean composite IQ of 101) and their parents completed a battery of tests to assess psychosocial functioning. Both raters completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ; Baron-Cohen et al., 2001), Empathy Quotient (EQ; Baron-Cohen & Wheelwright, 2004), and Social Skills Rating System (SSRS; Gresham & Elliot, 1990). Additionally, young adults completed the Social Skills Index (SSI; Riggio, 1986) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004), while parents completed the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS; Constantino, 2005), Systemizing Quotient - Revised (SQ; Wheelwright et al., 2006), and Vineland Adaptive Behaviors Scale - Second Edition (VABS-2; Sparrow, Balla, & Cicchetti, 2005).

Results:  Results reveal that in comparison to parent-report, young adults reported better overall Social Skills (p<.01) and Cooperation (p<.0001) on the SSRS, predicted by better self-reported Self-control on the SSRS (r=.498), Impulse Control on the DERS (r=-.495), and Emotional Control on the SSI (r=.426), and lower parent-reported Self-control on the SSRS (r=.494). Parents reported higher autistic traits on the AQ (p< .0001), predicted by lower parent-reported Social Awareness on the SRS (r=.546) and higher Externalizing behaviors on the SSRS (r=.482), and higher self-reported Social Control on the SSI (r=.399). These predictors were significant for Social Skills, Attention Shifting, and Communication AQ subscales; only the SQ predicted AQ – Imagination discrepancy (r = .410), and both raters agreed on the AQ – Attention to Detail. Young adults reported higher empathy on the EQ (p<.0001), predicted by higher self-reported Social Control (r=.482) and Emotional Sensitivity on the SSI (r=.467), and parent-reported lower Social Awareness on the SRS (r=.502) and higher Externalizing behaviors on the SSRS (r=.347).  Composite IQ and adaptive behavior did not relate to parent-child differences.

Conclusions:  Results from the current study support the literature suggesting that young adults with ASD appear to exhibit poor self-awareness and may minimize their social impairments. They further reveal that young adults with ASD may exercise less control over their self-presentation and cooperative behaviors in familial surroundings. These findings suggest possible benefits from participating in interventions that improve the young adults’ social skills and self-awareness, and that also help parents learn how to better support their child’s psychosocial development and self-management.