Abstract
Unstructured mother-toddler interactions were examined in 18-month-old high- and low-risk children subsequently diagnosed (n = 12) or not diagnosed (n = 21) with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at 36 months. Differences in maternal sensitivity were not found as a function of emergent ASD status. A differential-susceptibility moderation model of child risk guided investigations linking maternal sensitivity to child behavior and language growth. Group status moderated the relation between sensitivity and concurrent child behavior problems, with a positive association present for children with emergent ASD. Maternal sensitivity at 18 months predicted expressive language growth from age 2 to 3 years among children with emergent ASD only. Findings underscore the importance of understanding parent-child interaction during this key period in the development of autism symptomatology.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 988-999 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2010 |
Keywords
- Autism
- Language
- Parent-child interaction
- Parenting
- Risk
- Sensitivity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology