Parental behaviour in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Research about parental behaviour in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is very scarce. Usually, two primary dimensions of parenting are distinguished: parental warmth and parental control. Because of the specific educational challenges that parents of children with ASD encounter, we question how their parental behaviour can be characterized. Parental behaviours are often investigated in relation with problem behaviour. Children with ASD show problem behaviours frequently. Communication problems in children and stress in parents are factors that can influence the relationship between parental behaviour and problem behaviour. This studys main goal is to investigate parental behaviour in toddlers with ASD. Furthermore, possible relations with behaviour problems and possible influences of communication problems of the child and parental stress are examined. The participants of this study are a group of 50 mothers and toddlers with ASD (age of 30 to 48 months) and a control group of 50 mothers and toddlers (age of 30 to 48 months). Questionnaires and an observation method will be used to gather all data. This study is embedded within several research lines at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

Keywords:Toddlers, Communication, Stress, Problem behaviour, Parenting behaviour, Autism spectrus disorder (ASD)

Disciplines:Orthopedagogics and special education