Totsika, Vasiliki, Hastings, Richard P., Emerson, Eric, Berridge, Damon and Lancaster, Gillian A. (2015) Prosocial skills in young children with autism, and their mothers’ psychological well-being : longitudinal relationships. Research in autism spectrum disorders, 13-14 . pp. 25-31. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2015.01.001 ISSN 1750-9467.

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Abstract

The study aimed to explore the longitudinal association between prosocial skills in young children with an ASD and maternal psychological well-being. Participants were 132 children with autism drawn from the British Millennium Cohort Study (aged 9 months, 3 and 5 years). Three-wave cross-lagged structural equation models tested whether children's prosocial skills were reciprocally related to maternal psychological distress and life satisfaction. Findings indicated that relationships were not bidirectional, as both maternal outcomes were not associated with children's prosocial skills two years later. However, prosocial skills at 3 years were associated with improved maternal well-being (less distress and more life satisfaction) when children were 5-years-old. The study adds to the limited evidence base on bidirectional relationships between prosocial skills in ASD and proximal environmental variables. Findings highlight the importance of testing for reciprocal relationships rather than assuming unidirectional effects. In addition, they indicate that other-directed behaviors in children with autism have the potential to boost maternal well-being.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Empathy in children, Autistic children, Mothers of autistic children
Journal or Publication Title:	Research in autism spectrum disorders
Publisher:	Elsevier Inc.
ISSN:	1750-9467
Official Date:	15 May 2015
Dates:	Date Event 15 May 2015 Available 27 January 2015 Accepted 22 December 2014 Updated 3 September 2014 Submitted
Volume:	13-14
Number of Pages:	7
Page Range:	pp. 25-31
DOI:	10.1016/j.rasd.2015.01.001
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit:	29 December 2015
Date of first compliant Open Access:	15 November 2016
Funder:	Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) (ESRC)
Grant number:	RES-000-22-3216 (ESRC)

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