Dataset Information

Middle-childhood executive functioning mediates associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and adolescent mental health, academic and functional outcomes in autistic children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Executive functioning (EF) varies in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is associated with clinical symptoms, academic, and adaptive functioning. Here, we examined whether middle-childhood EF mediates associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and adolescent outcomes in children with ASD.

Methods

The Pathways in ASD Cohort comprising children recruited at the time of ASD diagnosis (at 2-4 years-of-age) and followed prospectively across eight subsequent timepoints over ~10 years was used. A subset of Pathways participants (n = 250) with Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)-Parent Form data from at least one timepoint when participants were school-aged was analyzed. A mediation framework was used to examine whether BRIEF-measured EF across age 7-10 years (middle-childhood) mediated associations between early-childhood autism symptoms (measured using the parent-report Social Responsiveness Scale across age 2-6 years) and clinical, academic, and functional outcomes, indexed at age >10-11.8 years (early-adolescence) using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)-Internalizing and Externalizing Scales, Academic Performance from the Teacher's Report Form, and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Models were rerun substituting clinician-rated and teacher-rated measures, where possible.

Results

Mediation models indicated a significant indirect effect of middle-childhood EF on associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and externalizing behavior, academic performance, or adaptive functioning in early adolescence; kappa squared (κ² ) effect sizes ranged from large to small. Model findings were stable across raters. Middle-childhood EF did not mediate associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and adolescent internalizing behavior.

Conclusions

Among children with an ASD diagnosis, middle-childhood EF may be one pathway through which early-childhood autism symptoms influence a variety of outcomes in early-adolescence. An experimental study targeting middle-childhood EF to improve adolescent academic, emotional/behavioral, and adaptive functioning is needed to evaluate the clinical meaningfulness of these findings.

SUBMITTER: Ameis SH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9291328 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Middle-childhood executive functioning mediates associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and adolescent mental health, academic and functional outcomes in autistic children.

Ameis Stephanie H SH Haltigan John D JD Lyon Rachael E RE Sawyer Amanda A Mirenda Pat P Kerns Connor M CM Smith Isabel M IM Vaillancourt Tracy T Volden Joanne J Waddell Charlotte C Zwaigenbaum Lonnie L Bennett Teresa T Duku Eric E Elsabbagh Mayada M Georgiades Stelios S Ungar Wendy J WJ Zaidman-Zait Anat A Lai Meng-Chuan MC Szatmari Peter P

Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines 20210812 5

<h4>Background</h4>Executive functioning (EF) varies in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is associated with clinical symptoms, academic, and adaptive functioning. Here, we examined whether middle-childhood EF mediates associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and adolescent outcomes in children with ASD.<h4>Methods</h4>The Pathways in ASD Cohort comprising children recruited at the time of ASD diagnosis (at 2-4 years-of-age) and followed prospectively across eight subs ...[more]

PMID: 34382216

Similar Datasets

Project description:Executive functioning (EF) deficits co-occur frequently with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and have a long-term detrimental impact on quality of life of children and their families. Timely identification of risk for EF vulnerabilities may hasten access to early intervention and alleviate their long-term consequences. This study examines (1) if EF deficits are elevated in toddlers with ASD compared to nonautistic siblings of children with ASD, typically developing (TYP) toddlers, and toddlers with atypical developmental presentation; and (2) if EF deficits have a detrimental effect on adaptive functioning in ASD. Participants were recruited between September 2014 and October 2019 and included 73 toddlers with ASD, 33 nonautistic siblings of children with ASD, 35 toddlers with atypical development, and 28 TYP toddlers matched on chronological age (M = 39.01 months, SD = 3.11). EF deficits were measured using the BRIEF-P; adaptive skills were measured using the VABS-II. Whenever appropriate, analyses were controlled for MSEL verbal and nonverbal developmental quotient, ADOS-2 autism severity scores, and sex. Analyses revealed that toddlers with ASD exhibited elevated BRIEF-P scores across all domains compared to each of the three comparison groups. Higher BRIEF-P scores were associated with lower adaptive social, communication, and daily living skills while controlling for symptom severity, verbal and nonverbal functioning, and sex. In conclusion, marked vulnerabilities in EF are already present in 3-year-old toddlers with ASD and are predictive of the level of adaptive functioning in ASD. EF vulnerabilities in toddlers should be targeted for intervention to improve long-term outcomes in ASD. LAY SUMMARY: Many children with autism experience vulnerabilities in executive functioning (EF), which may include challenges with inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and planning. The study shows that these vulnerabilities can already be detected at age three and that their presence is linked with lower social, communication, and daily living skills. Screening children with ASD for EF challenges and helping those who have difficulties may improve their long-term outcomes.

Dataset Information

Middle-childhood executive functioning mediates associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and adolescent mental health, academic and functional outcomes in autistic children.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Middle-childhood executive functioning mediates associations between early-childhood autism symptoms and adolescent mental health, academic and functional outcomes in autistic children.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets