Brief report: The impact of the broad autism phenotype on parent perception of autism symptoms in their children with and without autism spectrum disorder compared to teachers. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dovgan, Kristen; Nowell, Kerri P.; Hecmanczuk, Theresa
• Is Part Of: Research in developmental disabilities. Volume 125(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Broad Autism Phenotype -- Autism Spectrum Disorder -- Rater bias -- Rater discordance -- Informant agreement -- Autism symptoms -- Symptom presentation -- Rater perception; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmental Disabilities -- Periodicals; Disabled -- Periodicals; Mental Retardation -- rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Personnes atteintes de troubles du développement -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Enfants atteints de troubles du développement -- Éducation -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Développement, Troubles du -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 616.858800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104231
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-4222

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes caregiver-reported rating scales of symptom presentation. The extent to which a broad autism phenotype (BAP) in parents of children with ASD might impact their endorsement of autism symptoms in their children with and without ASD has not been well evaluated. Aims: This study analyzed whether varying degrees of parental BAP were associated with reported autism symptoms in offspring with and without ASD. Methods and Procedures: We used the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire as a measure of BAP in parents and parent- and teacher-report on the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) to assess autism symptoms in children with ASD and their typically developing (TD) siblings (N = 5714) . We assessed the relationship between parental BAP and parent-teacher discordance. We compared teacher reports of autism symptoms in children with varying degrees of BAP exposure. Outcomes and Results: Mothers with higher levels of BAP over-reported autism symptoms in their children (compared to teachers) than mothers with lower BAP. TD children from parents with greater BAP displayed more autism symptoms than children from households with less BAP. Conclusions and Implications: BAP is associated with parent report of autism symptoms when compared to teacher report. For children with ASD, it is possible that differences in ratings reflect parent perception and not autism symptomatology; whereas, TD children from households with higher levels of BAP exposure showed more phenotypic autism symptom presentation on teacher-completed measures. Researchers and clinicians should consider BAP when interpreting caregiver and teacher reports. Highlights: Broad Autism Phenotype is associated with parent report of autism symptoms. Mothers with BAP overreport autism symptoms in their children. Teachers report more autism symptoms in TD children from households with more BAP.