Prosocial behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during interactions with their typically developing siblings

Rum, Yonat; Zachor, Ditza A.; Dromi, Esther

doi:10.1177/0165025420971042

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Prosocial behaviors, which refer to actions that one engages in to benefit others, like helping, sharing, and comforting, is often believed to be the basis of human relationships (1). Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might display fewer prosocial behaviors compared with typically developing (TD) children which are likely due to the social-communication deficits associated with an ASD diagnosis (2). For example, school-aged autistic children presented fewer prosocial behaviors in daily life than typically developing (TD) children when using parent-or teacher-reported rating scales (e.g., the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire) (3,4).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Empathy, Theory of Mind, and Prosocial Behaviors in Autistic Children

et al. 2022

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Background:Previous research has suggested that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display fewer prosocial behaviors, and the role of empathy or Theory of Mind (ToM) in prosocial behaviors of autistic children remains unclear.MethodsData were obtained from an ongoing longitudinal study in Guangzhou, China. A total of 96 autistic children and 167 typically developing (TD) children were enrolled. Prosocial behaviors were assessed using a subscale of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and Dictator Game (DG) paradigm with stickers as incentives. Empathic traits and ToM ability were measured using the children's Empathy Quotient and the Chinese version of ToM toolkit. Generalized linear models were used to assess the differences of prosocial behaviors and empathic traits, ToM ability between the two groups and the associations between empathic traits, ToM ability and prosocial behaviors in autistic children.ResultsCompared with TD children, autistic children exhibited worse ToM ability and performed less pro-socially in the DG paradigm, while there were no differences regarding empathic traits. In autistic children, empathic traits especially affective empathy, were positively associated with parent-reported prosocial behaviors [β = 0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.07–0.27; β = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.33–0.60]. ToM ability was associated with DG paradigm (β = 1.03, 95%CI: 0.16–1.89).ConclusionAutistic children showed less pro-sociality and ToM ability than TD children. In autistic children, empathic trait was associated with parent-reported prosocial behaviors while their ToM ability was associated with prosocial behaviors in experimental condition. Our findings indicated that better ToM ability and empathic trait might promote prosocial behaviors in autistic children.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Empathy, Theory of Mind, and Prosocial Behaviors in Autistic Children

et al. 2022

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“…However, when considering these variables, siblings of children with physical disabilities showed a more consistent pattern of higher prosocial behavior across both father and mother report, whereas siblings of children with ASD displayed this strength based on motherreport only. This could be because of more autism characteristics amongst siblings of children with ASD and/or due to less prosocial interactions with their brother or sister with ASD (Kaminsky & Dewey, 2001;Knott et al, 1995Knott et al, , 2007Rum et al, 2020). Moreover, mothers of children with ASD may implicitly compare siblings prosocial behavior with the prosocial behavior of the child with ASD, and this can result in inflated mother-ratings of siblings prosocial behavior (McDonald et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prosocial Behavior Is a Relative Strength in Siblings of Children with Physical Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder

et al. 2021

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Research on siblings of children with developmental and physical disabilities has emphasized negative influences on siblings’ mental health. Yet, such siblings may be more prosocial compared with siblings of children without disabilities, due to care responsibilities and their experiences with their brother’s or sister’s disability. We compared prosocial behavior between siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 47), physical disabilities (n = 42), and siblings of children without disabilities (n = 44) using a multi-informant approach (i.e., child-, mother-, and father-report). Prosocial behavior was measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Drawing on the theoretical and empirical sibling literature, we also examined whether siblings’ internalizing and externalizing difficulties, adjustment to the sibling situation, and communication with parents correlated with siblings’ prosocial behavior. Child-reported internalizing difficulties and mother–child communication significantly correlated with mother-reported prosocial behavior. Child-reported internalizing and externalizing difficulties significantly correlated with father-reported prosocial behavior. No significant correlates with child-reported prosocial behavior was identified. When adjusting for siblings’ internalizing and externalizing difficulties and mother–child communication, siblings of children with physical disabilities scored significantly higher than siblings of children without disabilities on mother- and father-reported prosocial behavior. Siblings of children with ASD scored significantly higher on mother-reported prosocial behavior. We conclude that prosocial behavior may be a relative strength in siblings of children with developmental and physical disabilities, and that siblings’ prosocial behavior may be influenced by type of disability, mental health, and family communication. Interventions targeting siblings’ mental health and family communication may be helpful in promoting siblings’ prosocial behavior.

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“…Although most of the papers in the Special Section examine prosocial behaviors aiming to benefit an individual or an unspecified target, some of the papers study specific targets of prosocial behaviors. For example, Rum et al (2020) focuses on prosociality in sibling dyads, particularly between a typically developing older sibling and a younger sibling with autism spectrum disorders. The Rum et al ( 2020) study provides important insights on prosocial development in an understudied and unique family relationship context.…”

Section: Specific Contributions Of the Special Sectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Special Section also reflects a multiplicity of research designs and methodological approaches. Observational data (Rum et al, 2021), experimental tasks (Shamoa-Nir et al, 2021), selfreport (Bradshaw et al, 2020;Davis et al, 2021;Samper et al, 2021;Shamoa-Nir et al, 2021), and multi-informant (Shi et al, 2021) surveys were used. Three papers are longitudinal studies (Bradshaw et al, 2021;Davis et al, 2021;Shi et al, 2021) spanning 3-12 years.…”

Section: Specific Contributions Of the Special Sectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, well-designed, ecologically valid experiments (e.g., manipulating scenarios to observe and measure actual behaviors) and interventions are needed to test causality and also lend greater transferability to real-world actions. Finally, building on the Special Section's global and diverse coverage (Spain [Samper et al, 2021]; U.S. [Davis et al, 2021;Shi et al, 2021]; Israel [Rum et al, 2021;Shamoa-Nir et al, 2021]; and Ireland [Bradshaw et al, 2021]), more cross-cultural research that extends beyond WEIRD-populations (Henrich et al, 2010) are needed.…”

Section: Beyond the Special Sectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Introduction to the Special Section: Prosocial development in risky and vulnerable contexts

Taylor

Carlo

2021

International Journal of Behavioral Development

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The introduction highlights a developmental perspective on children’s and youth prosocial behavior in risky and vulnerable contexts. The six empirical papers published in this Special Section are considered within a multilevel, multidimensional framework and reflect a diversity of methodological approaches. The studies each provide foundational work that informs theory, builds our knowledge base, and has important intervention implications. We highlight the contributions of each study and present recommendations for future developmental research on prosocial behaviors.

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Prosocial behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during interactions with their typically developing siblings

Cited by 17 publications

References 32 publications

Empathy, Theory of Mind, and Prosocial Behaviors in Autistic Children

Empathy, Theory of Mind, and Prosocial Behaviors in Autistic Children

Prosocial Behavior Is a Relative Strength in Siblings of Children with Physical Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder

Introduction to the Special Section: Prosocial development in risky and vulnerable contexts

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