Social Interaction Style of Children and Adolescents with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders 2012-10, Vol.42 (10), p.2046-2055
• Main Authors: Scheeren, Anke M., Koot, Hans M., Begeer, Sander
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescence; Adolescent; Adolescents; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology; Attention Deficit Disorders; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - diagnosis; Autism Spectrum Disorder - psychology; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Autistic children; Autistic spectrum disorders; Behavior Problems; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child and School Psychology; Child clinical studies; Children; Cognitive Processes; Correlation; Developmental disorders; Executive function; Female; High functioning; Humans; Hyperactivity; Individualized Instruction; Infantile autism; Interaction; Interpersonal Relations; Interpersonal Relationship; Inventories; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Health; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Perspective Taking; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Psychological Patterns; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public Health; Questionnaires; Social aspects; Social interaction; Social interactions; Styles; Surveys and Questionnaires; Symptoms; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Wings
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-012-1451-x

Qualitative differences in social interaction style exist within the autism spectrum. In this study we examined whether these differences are associated with (1) the severity of autistic symptoms and comorbid disruptive behavior problems, (2) the child’s psycho-social health, and (3) executive functioning and perspective taking skills. The social interaction style of 156 children and adolescents (6–19 years) with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) was determined with the Wing Subgroups Questionnaire. An active-but-odd social interaction style was positively associated with symptoms of autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity. Furthermore, an active-but-odd social interaction style was negatively associated with children’s psycho-social health and positively with executive functioning problems. Social interaction style explains part of the heterogeneity among children with HFASD.