Adaptation of Parents Raising a Child with ASD: The Role of Positive Perceptions, Coping, Self-efficacy, and Social Support.

This study explored the adaptation of parents raising a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) specifically the contributory role of positive perceptions, coping, self-efficacy, and social support. One hundred and thirty-six parents of children with a diagnosis of ASD completed a battery of self-report questionnaires via an online survey. Using multiple regression analyses positive perceptions, adaptive coping, self-efficacy, and social support were each a significant contributor to one or more positive adaptation outcomes.

The Co-Occurrence of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cerebral Palsy and Associated Comorbid Conditions in Children and Adolescents.

Background: Comorbidity is the co-occurrence of two or more disorders in the same person.

Aim: This study investigated the frequency of comorbid conditions, in children and adolescents, with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy (CP), and a comorbid diagnosis of ASD and CP.

Method: Ninety-six children and adolescents with ASD, CP, and both ASD and CP aged between 4 and 18 years participated in this study.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Sleep Problems, Challenging Behavior, Adaptive Behavior, and Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This study investigated the relationship between sleep, gastrointestinal symptoms, challenging behavior, adaptive behavior, and quality of life between children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) symptoms. Parents of 118 children and adolescents with ASD completed the Conners Early Childhood Rating Scale-Parent Short Form or the Conners 3-Parent Short Form, Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Gastrointestinal Symptom Inventory, Behavior Problems Inventory-Short Form, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition. The ASD group and the ASD with AD/HD groups differed significantly in sleep problems, gastrointestinal symptoms, and quality of life.

Gaming Disorder in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Gaming disorder (GD) is a clinical addiction to video or internet games. This study investigated whether GD symptoms are heightened in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in comparison to a control group, and explored predictors of GD in 230 adults with ASD and 272 controls. The relationship between GD and gelotophobia was examined.

Relationship between Comorbid Psychopathology in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Parental Well-being.

Aim: Frequency and relationship between child comorbid psychopathology and parental stress, quality of life (QoL), anxiety, depression, and social support were examined in parents of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Method: Parents of 152 children and adolescents with ASD completed the Autism Spectrum Disorder-Comorbid for Children, Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated Version, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.

Results: A series of one-way multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to examine the relationship between child comorbid psychopathology and parental well-being.

Familial sleep and autism spectrum disorder: a pilot actigraphy study of sleep quality, quality of life and psychological distress.

Objectives: Sleep problems are common among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can have a negative impact on the child's behaviour and daytime functioning. The current pilot study examined objective measurements of child and parent sleep as factors associated with the stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, social support and quality of life of parents of children with ASD.

Methods: Participants were nine children with ASD and their parents (nine mothers and three fathers).

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, comorbid psychopathology, behaviour problems and gastrointestinal symptoms in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

Objectives: The study aims to investigate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, comorbid psychopathology and behaviour problems in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: Parents of 147 children and adolescents with ASD aged 6-18 years completed the Conners 3 Parent-Short Form, Gastrointestinal Symptom Inventory, Behavior Problems Inventory-Short Form and Autism Spectrum Disorder-Comorbid for Children.

Results: Fifty-six per cent of children and adolescents had a comorbid diagnosis of ADHD, yet over 70% presented with clinically significant ADHD symptoms.

Age of Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis and Comorbidity in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Aim: Research is required to study the relationship between age of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and the presence of comorbidities.

Method: The Gastrointestinal Symptom Inventory, Autism Spectrum Disorder-Comorbid for Children, Behavior Problem Inventory-Short Form and Social Communication Questionnaire were completed by parents of 129 children and adolescents with a diagnosis of ASD.

Results: Results revealed significant relationships between the age of ASD diagnosis, the presence of comorbidities and intellectual disability.

Comorbid Feeding and Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Challenging Behavior, Sensory Issues, Adaptive Functioning and Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Children and adolescents diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often demonstrate difficulties with feeding. The goal of the current study was to investigate co-occurring issues that often accompany feeding problems in 120 children and adolescents with ASD. : This study investigated the relationship between feeding problems and gastrointestinal symptoms, challenging behavior and sensory issues, quality of life, adaptive functioning and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Feeding Problems, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Challenging Behavior and Sensory Issues in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Frequency of feeding problems, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, challenging behavior, sensory problems and comorbid psychopathology were assessed using the following questionnaires: Screening Tool for Feeding Problems for Children, GI Symptoms Inventory, Behavior Problems Inventory Short Form, Short Sensory Profile, and Autism Spectrum Disorder-Comorbidity Child (ASD-CC) in 136 children and adolescents with ASD. Eighty-four percent had food selectivity, followed by food refusal (78.7%), rapid eating (76.

An Investigation of Gelotophobia in Individuals with a Diagnosis of High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Samson et al. (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 41:475-483, 2011) conducted the first empirical investigation examining the fear of being laughed at (gelotophobia) and its prevalence in individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (hfASD). The present research examined gelotophobia in relation to social functioning, perceived social support, life satisfaction and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with hfASD, including past experiences of bullying and the presence of comorbid psychopathology.

Bio-collections in autism research.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders with diverse clinical manifestations and symptoms. In the last 10 years, there have been significant advances in understanding the genetic basis for ASD, critically supported through the establishment of ASD bio-collections and application in research. Here, we summarise a selection of major ASD bio-collections and their associated findings.

Vocational Rehabilitation Service Patterns and Outcomes for Individuals with Autism of Different Ages.

Young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often experience employment difficulties. Using Rehabilitation Service Administration data (RSA-911), this study investigated the service patterns and factors related to the employment outcomes of individuals with ASD in different age groups. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the effects of demographic and vocational rehabilitation (VR) service variables on employment outcomes in each age group.

An analysis of challenging behavior, comorbid psychopathology, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Fragile X Syndrome.

The present study sought to investigate the relationship between challenging behavior, comorbid psychopathology, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) in Fragile X Syndrome (FRAX). Additionally, this study sought to examine how such disorders are predicted by gender, presence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and presence of intellectual disability (ID). A total of 47 children and adolescents with FRAX were assessed.