Do reciprocal associations exist between social and language pathways in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders?. (7th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bennett, Teresa A.; Szatmari, Peter; Georgiades, Katholiki; Hanna, Steven; Janus, Magdelena; Georgiades, Stelios; Duku, Eric; Bryson, Susan; Fombonne, Eric; Smith, Isabel M.; Mirenda, Pat; Volden, Joanne; Waddell, Charlotte; Roberts, Wendy; Vaillancourt, Tracy; Zwaigenbaum, Lonnie; Elsabbagh, Mayada; Thompson, Ann; The Pathways in ASD Study Team
• Is Part Of: Journal of child psychology and psychiatry and allied disciplines. Volume 56:Number 8(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 874
• Page End: 883
• Publication Date: 2014-11-07
• Subjects: Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child psychiatry -- Periodicals; 155.4
• DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12356
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9630

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jcpp12356-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jcpp12356-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Differences in how developmental pathways interact dynamically in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) likely contribute in important ways to phenotypic heterogeneity. This study aimed to model longitudinal reciprocal associations between social competence (SOC) and language (LANG) pathways in young children with ASD.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcpp12356-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Data were obtained from 365 participants aged 2–4 years who had recently been diagnosed with an ASD and who were followed over three time points: baseline (time of diagnosis), 6‐ and 12 months later. Using structural equation modeling, a cross‐lagged reciprocal effects model was developed that incorporated auto‐regressive (stability) paths for SOC (using the Socialization subscale of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales‐2) and LANG (using the Preschool Language Scale‐4 Auditory Comprehension subscale). Cross‐domain associations included within‐time correlations and lagged associations.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcpp12356-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>SOC and LANG were highly stable over 12 months. Small reciprocal cross‐lagged associations were found across most time points and within‐time correlations decreased over time. There were no differences in strength of cross‐lagged associations between SOC‐LANG and LANG‐SOC across time points. Few differences were found between subgroups of children with ASD with and without cognitive impairment.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcpp12356-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Longitudinal reciprocal cross‐domain associations between social competence and language were small in this sample of young children with ASD. Instead, a pattern emerged to suggest that the two domains were strongly associated around time of diagnosis in preschoolers with ASD, and then appeared to become more independent over the ensuing 12 months.</p> </sec> </abstract>