Empathy and behavior in children affected by autism spectrum disorders

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Developmental Neuroscience
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is frequently associated with reduced empathy and emotional reciprocity.
• Low empathy is a significant indicator of autistic functioning in children.
• Parental perception of empathy and behavior in children with ASD requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of empathy in pathological behaviors of children with ASD from parents' perspectives.
• To evaluate differences between mothers' and fathers' perceptions of their child's empathy and behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Compared empathy levels in 58 ASD patients via parent questionnaires.
• Utilized play observations, clinician-rated scales, and caregiver interviews for global evaluation.
• Assessed parent-reported empathy and behavioral problems.

Main Results:

• Most ASD patients exhibit low empathy, with high concordance between mothers and fathers.
• Children's empathy levels negatively correlate with internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems.
• Mothers more frequently perceive internalizing problems, while fathers notice externalizing ones.

Conclusions:

• Involving both parents in diagnostic assessments can enhance patient evaluation and therapeutic outcomes.
• Mothers and fathers show consistency in describing general child characteristics but differ on specific symptoms.
• Collaborative parental input is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of ASD in children.