Girija Kadlaskar, Ana-Maria Iosif, Burt Hatch, Leiana de la Paz, Annie Chuang, Makayla M Soller, Jocelynn Morales-Martinez, Kimberly G Tena, Jenna P Sandler, Sally Ozonoff, Meghan Miller
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: Self-regulation abilities in childhood are predictive of a range of challenges later in life, making it important to identify difficulties in this area as early as possible. Autistic children and those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have difficulties with self-regulation, but little is known about the similarities and differences in such abilities across neurodevelopmental conditions.
Method: We examined self-regulation using a delay of gratification task in 36-month-old autistic children (n = 20), those showing clinically relevant concerns for ADHD (i.e. ADHD Concerns; n = 24), and Comparison children without these conditions (n = 130); early predictors of self-regulation were also assessed.
Results: Both the Autism and ADHD Concerns groups had greater difficulty waiting for a desired snack than the Comparison group. At the longest delay trial (30 seconds), a substantial percentage of autistic children (50%) and those with ADHD Concerns (35%) consumed the snack prematurely, in contrast to only 16% of the Comparison group. Parent-reported temperament-based impulsivity at 18 months and examiner-observed ADHD-like traits at 24 months were associated with increased self-regulation challenges at 36 months, regardless of group. Adjusting for verbal abilities attenuated some of these differences and associations, suggesting that language may be an important mechanism undergirding early self-regulatory abilities.
Conclusion: Given possible links between preschool self-regulation and a range of critical functional outcomes, future studies may explore the efficacy of early interventions targeting impulsivity and regulatory behaviors in infants and toddlers at elevated likelihood for developing self-regulation challenges to potentially reduce the impact of these difficulties later in life.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (JCCAP) is the official journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association. It publishes original contributions on the following topics: (a) the development and evaluation of assessment and intervention techniques for use with clinical child and adolescent populations; (b) the development and maintenance of clinical child and adolescent problems; (c) cross-cultural and sociodemographic issues that have a clear bearing on clinical child and adolescent psychology in terms of theory, research, or practice; and (d) training and professional practice in clinical child and adolescent psychology, as well as child advocacy.