Broader Autism Phenotype and Communication Skills in Parents of Children with Autism

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the communication profile of parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and parents of typically developing children (TDC). Materials and Methods: Broad autism phenotype and communication skills were measured using the broad autism phenotype questionnaire (BAPQ) and the Queendom communication skill test (QCST) in parents of children with ASD and parents of TDC. Participants included 346 parents of children with ASD and parents of TDC. In the ASD group, participants included 172 parents (76 fathers and 96 mothers) of children diagnosed with ASD. The TDC parent group included parents 174 (85 fathers and 89 mothers). In the autism group, at least one child had autism and in the opposite group, the child had no psychological problems. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to examine the effects of group (TDC, ASD) and gender (male, female) on study variables. Results: A significant group-gender interaction was observed for BAPQ total scores (F(1,342)=4.28, P=0.039); Mothers of children with ASD reported higher BAPQ total scores than mothers of TDC (P=0.006), and mothers of TDC reported lower BAPQ total scores than fathers of TDC (P<0.001). A significant group-gender interaction was also observed for QCST total scores (F(1,342)=11.66, P<0.001); Mothers of children with ASD reported lower QCST total scores than mothers of TDC (P<0.001), and among parents of TDC, mothers had higher levels of QCST total scores than fathers (P<0.001). A negative significant correlation was observed between BAPQ and QCST total scores (r=-0.499, P<0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed a difference between parents’ communication skills in the two groups. Parents of children with ASD have more communication characteristics of autism than the control group, Fathers in the ASD group scored higher in the total scores of autism communication traits and some subtests which require further research in this area.