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Assessment of temperament in children with autism spectrum disorders

Abia Nazim1, Ruhi Khalid2

  • 1Forman Christian College University, Lahore.

JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
|October 18, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) exhibit distinct temperament profiles compared to neurotypical children. These temperaments correlate with cognitive and intellectual functioning in children with ASD.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviors.
  • Understanding the temperament of children with ASD is crucial for developing targeted interventions and support strategies.
  • Temperament, referring to innate behavioral tendencies, may influence how children with ASD interact with their environment and process information.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the specific temperament characteristics of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.
  • To explore the relationship between temperament traits and demographic variables in this population.
  • To examine the correlations between different aspects of temperament and cognitive/intellectual functioning in children with ASD.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 92 children aged 5-11 years with diagnosed autism spectrum disorders in Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Data collection utilized a demographic questionnaire, the Temperament in Middle Childhood questionnaire, and the Childhood Behaviour questionnaire via clinical interviews.
  • Statistical analyses were performed to compare temperament scores between genders and assess associations with cognitive and intellectual functioning.

Main Results:

  • The study included 61 boys (66%) and 31 girls (34%), with a mean age of 8.62 years.
  • Girls scored higher on negative affectivity, while boys exhibited higher scores in surgency and effortful control.
  • Negative affectivity was inversely associated with cognitive functioning, whereas surgency and effortful control showed positive associations with intellectual functioning.

Conclusions:

  • Children with autism spectrum disorders present a unique temperament profile that differs significantly from typically developing children.
  • Specific temperament dimensions, such as negative affectivity, surgency, and effortful control, are linked to cognitive and intellectual abilities in children with ASD.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering individual temperament in the assessment and management of autism spectrum disorders.
Abstract

Keywords:
Temperament, Developmental disabilities, Autism spectrum disorder, Children, Individual differences. (JPMA 69: 1437; 2019). doi :10.5455/JPMA.290521

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