Relationship between executive function and autism symptoms in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Executive dysfunction and other symptomatology could have links in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study contains three objectives: to explore the difference in executive function between preschoolers with ASD and typically developing individuals (TD), to investigate correlations between executive function and multiple domains of autism symptoms in preschoolers with ASD, and to examine the impact of executive function on symptoms of autism. Participants of this study included preschoolers (4–6 years) with ASD (24 boys, 20 girls) according to DSM-5-TR criteria and TD (24 boys, 20 girls). BRIEF-P (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version) and CASD-C (Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorder-Chinese Version) were used as measurement tools. Data were analyzed using MANOVA, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and simple regression. For the results, the study found results of executive function were significantly lower in preschoolers with ASD than in preschoolers without ASD; the greater the executive dysfunction, the greater the autistic symptomatology, and executive dysfunction predicted 57 % of the variability of autism symptoms. In conclusion, preschoolers with ASD had more executive dysfunction than those without ASD. Based on our findings, the study recommends incorporating executive function into clinical assessment programs to understand how executive function is related to autism symptoms.