The Impact of Parental Psychiatric Symptoms and Parent-Child Relationships on Behavioural and Emotional Problems in Newly-Diagnosed Toddlers and Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Ayhan  Bilgiç; Necati Uzun

doi:10.6000/2292-2598.2016.04.04.4

Authors

Ayhan Bilgiç Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Turkey
Necati Uzun Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Meram School of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Turkey

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/2292-2598.2016.04.04.4

Keywords:

ASD, toddlers, preschool children, emotional problems, behavioural problems, parents.

Abstract

Background: Emotional and behavioural problems occur at a high rate in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These problems are associated with a broad range of risk factors such as parental psychopathology and family environment in school-age children and adolescents. However, limited information is available about these phenomena in toddlers and preschool children. This cross-sectional study examined the association of maternal and paternal psychiatric symptoms and mother-child relationships with emotional and behavioural problems and socioemotional competence of newly-diagnosed young children with ASD.

Method: Autistic symptoms, developmental level, and mother-child relationship of children were evaluated. Parents completed a checklist on child behavioural and emotional problems, and individual questionnaires on their own mental health.

Results: Participants were 35 children with ASD aged 18 – 53 months, referred to an infant mental health clinic. Maternal hostility and poor mother-child relationships have been found to be independently associated with emotional and behaviour problems in these children.

Conclusions: This study suggests that maternal hostility and mother-child relationship problems may play a role for the development of emotional and behaviour problems in toddlers and preschool children with ASD.

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