Understanding Parent–Child Social Informant Discrepancy in Youth with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

We investigated discrepancies between parent- and self-reported social functioning among youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Three distinct samples showed discrepancies indicating that parents viewed their children as performing one standard deviation below a standardization mean, while youth viewed themselves as comparably-skilled relative to peers. Discrepancies predicted lower parental self-efficacy, and lower youth-reported hostile attributions to peers, marginally-lower depression, and decreased post-treatment social anxiety. Discrepancies predicted outcomes better than parent- or youth-report alone. Informant discrepancies may provide valuable additional information regarding child psychopathology, parental perceptions of parenting stress, and youth treatment response. Findings support a model where abnormal self-perceptions in ASD stem from inflated imputation of subjective experiences to others, and provide direction for improving interventions for youth and parents.

Sex Differences in Internalizing Problems During Adolescence in Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…A growing number of studies have addressed the important problem of parentchild reporting discrepancies in high functioning children and adolescents with ASD (e.g., Johnson et al 2009;Lerner et al 2012;Ozsivadjian et al 2014;Sterling et al 2015;Vickerstaff et al 2007), and their results have been mixed. Given that it is highly plausible that reduced selfawareness of one's own social impairments within the ASD population leads to underreporting of anxiety symptoms relevant to social contexts, as might be measured by Social Anxiety or Harm Avoidance scales, it is not surprising that several studies have found parent-child discrepancies in reports of social functioning impairments, with parents reporting poorer functioning (Johnson et al 2009;Lerner et al 2012;McMahon and Solomon 2015;Vickerstaff et al 2007). However, a recent meta-analysis examining agreement in children with ASD and those with intellectual disability found moderate levels of agreement between parents and children for internalizing symptoms (Stratis and Lecavalier 2015).…”

Assessment and Treatment of Anxiety in Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…14 16 Sometimes, there may be disagreement between parent and child reports. 17 It is therefore important for clinicians to collect collateral information from school staff and other caregivers in the form of narratives and behavior reports to supplement their findings.…”

Guidelines and Best Practices for Electrophysiological Data Collection, Analysis and Reporting in Autism

“…Relations between observed behavior and neural activity may also be non-linear in autism (e.g., “U” shaped) with individuals who are low or high in both clinical features (e.g., self-awareness) and comorbidities (e.g., anxiety) showing different patterns (e.g., Lerner, Calhoun, Mikami, & De Los Reyes, 2012; Pugliese, White, White, & Ollendick, 2013). These examples highlight the need to examine EEG responses in light of other (behavioral) phenotypes and within the profile of autism.…”