18774
Social Skills, IQ, and Depression Among Boys Aged 8-12 with ASD
Objectives: We will compare the relation of IQ, social skills, and internalizing symptoms among boys aged 8-12 with and without ASD.
Methods: Measures used for the current analyses were collected for each participant during either a home or in-clinic visit as part of a larger scale study on the friendships of 8-12 year old boys with ASD. The Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2; Kamphaus & Reynolds, 2007) was used to measure internalizing symptoms. social skills were measured using the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS; Gresham & Elliott, 1990). IQ was measured using the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT; Kaufman & Kaufman, 2004). 19 boys with ASD and 12 neurotypical controls participated, with 20 in each group anticipated by the time of presentation.
Results: A unique relation between social skills, IQ, depression, and anxiety was evident in the ASD sample, but not in the neurotypical sample. Among the 19 boys with ASD, IQ was significantly and positively related with depression (r (18)=.477, p=.039). Additionally, overall social skills as rated on the SSRS were positively associated with depression (r(18)= .525, p=.021) and anxiety (r=(18). .518; p=.023). Lastly, verbal IQ was significantly and positively associated with social skills only in the ASD sample (r(18)=.539, p=.017). A Sobel test of mediation among the ASD sample indicated that social skills mediated the relation between IQ and depression.
Conclusions: Findings from this investigation replicate findings from previous studies indicating a significant relation between IQ, social skills, and internalizing symptoms among children with ASD, with verbal IQ playing an especially important role. Children with ASD and high verbal IQs may be more aware of their own social shortcomings and demonstrate stronger social skills. This awareness, however, may be a double-edged sword that leaves them more aware of social rejection than their peers and at elevated risk for depression and anxiety as a result.