ABSTRACT

Introduction: Children with developmental delays (DD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are at a high risk for emotional and behavioral concerns. Research examining co-occurring anxiety in those with ASD during early childhood is scarce. The current study examined rates, symptom manifestation, and parenting risk correlates of anxiety among young children with ASD and those with a non-spectrum DD.

Method: The study included a sample of preschool-aged children (M = 4.18 years) with ASD (n = 56) and non-spectrum DD (n = 43). Anxiety symptoms were measured using the CBCL, and parenting was measured using parent-report and observational methods.

Results: Results indicated that those with ASD were at a greater risk for anxiety symptoms than those with a non-spectrum DD; however, ASD diagnosis did not differentiate the presentation of anxiety. Inconsistent parenting emerged as predictor of anxiety symptoms for children with ASD.

Conclusions: Given the high risk for anxiety in individuals with ASD, it is important to identify and treat anxiety in young children with ASD. The current study highlighted inconsistent parenting as a potential target to address in future parenting interventions for anxiety in young children with ASD.

摘要

简介：发育迟缓（DD）和自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的儿童极易受到情绪和行为困扰。很少有研究检查儿童期早期患有ASD的人同时发生的焦虑。当前的研究检查了患有ASD的儿童和患有非频谱性DD的儿童中焦虑的发生率，症状表现和育儿风险的相关性。

方法：该研究包括ASD（ n = 56）和非频谱DD（ n = 43）的学龄前儿童（ M = 4.18岁）。使用CBCL测量焦虑症状，并使用父母报告和观察方法测量育儿。

结果：结果表明，与无频谱DD的患者相比，患有ASD的患者出现焦虑症状的风险更大。但是，ASD诊断不能区分焦虑症的表现。育儿不一致成为ASD患儿焦虑症状的预测指标。

结论：鉴于自闭症患者的焦虑风险较高，因此识别和治疗自闭症幼儿的焦虑症很重要。当前的研究强调，父母养育不统一是潜在的目标，可以解决以后针对ASD幼儿的焦虑症的父母养育干预措施。