Abstract
Most studies have reported autistic children as coming from upper social economic status (SES) families. A few studies have not found any such social class bias. In order to resolve these contradictory findings, an empirical study was conducted on a statewide sample of families with autistic children. It was hypothesized that autistic children from high SES families would be associated with seven social class selection factors: (1) early age of onset, (2) early age of treatment admission, (3) normal cognitive potential, (4) complex rituals with maintenance of sameness, (5) long distance traveled for treatment, (6) limited availability of services, and (7) very detailed child history. Factors 1, 5, 6, and 7 distinguished high SES from low SES families in the predicted direction. Implications for research and treatment are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abromowicz, H. K., & Richardson, S. A. Epidemiology of severe mental retardation in children: Community studies.American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1975,80, 18–39.
Annell, A. L. The prognosis of psychotic syndromes in childhood: A follow-up study of 115 cases.Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 1963,39, 235–297.
Anthony, J. An experimental approach to the psychopathology of childhood: Autism.British Journal of Medical Psychology, 1958,31, 211–225.
Bender, L., & Grugett, A. E. A study of certain epidemiological factors in a group of children with childhood schizophrenia.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1956,26, 131–145.
Bettelheim, B.The empty fortress: Infantile autism and the birth of the self. New York: Free Press, 1967.
Brown, C. F. Parents' perceptions of experiences associated with seeking community services for their preschool age mentally retarded child.Dissertations Abstracts International, 1973,34 (2-A), 865.
Campbell, M., Hardesty, A., & Burdock, E. Demographic and perinatal profile of 105 autistic children: A preliminary report.Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 1978,14, 36–39.
Creak, M. Schizophrenic syndrome in childhood: Further progress of a working party.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 1964,6, 530–535.
Creak, M., & Ini, S. Families of psychotic children.Journal of Child Psychology and Child Psychiatry, 1960,1, 156–175.
Eisenberg, L., & Kanner, L. Childhood schizophrenia symposium, 1955, early infantile autism 1943–55.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1956,26, 556–566.
Goldfarb, W.Growth and change of schizophrenic children: A longitudinal study. Washington, D.C.: V. H. Winston, 1974.
Heber, R.Epidemiology of mental retardation. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C Thomas, 1970.
Hollingshead, A., & Redlich, F.Social class and mental illness. New York: Wiley, 1958.
Kanner, L. Autistic disturbances of affective contact.Nervous Child, 1943,2, 217–250.
Kanner, L. Early infantile autism revisited. In G. Usdin (Ed.),The psychiatric forum. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1973.
Kolvin, I., Ounsted, C., Richardson, M., & Garside, R. F. The family and social background in childhood psychoses.British Journal of Psychiatry, 1971,118, 396–402.
Lansing, M., & Schopler, E. Individualized education: A public school model. In M. Rutter & E. Schopler (Eds.),Autism: A reappraisal of concepts and treatment. New York: Plenum, 1978. Pp. 439–452.
Lotter, V. Epidemiology of autistic conditions in young children. II. Some characteristics of the parents and children.Social Psychiatry, 1967,1, 163–173.
Lowe, L. H. Families of children with early childhood schizophrenia. Selected demographic, information.Archives of General Psychiatry, 1966,14, 25–30.
McDermott, J. F., Harrison, D. L., Schrager, J., Lindy, J., & Killins, E. Social class and mental illness in children—the question of childhood psychosis.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1967,37, 548–557.
Pittfield, M., & Oppenheim, A. Child rearing attitudes of mothers of psychotic children.Journal of Child Psychology and Child Psychiatry, 1964,5, 52–57.
Prior, M., Gajzago, C., & Knox, D. An epidemiology study of autistic and psychotic children in the four eastern states of Australia.Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 1976,10, 173–184.
Reichler, R. J., & Schopler, E. Observations on the nature of human relatedness.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1971,1, 283–296.
Reichler, R. J., & Schopler, E. Developmental therapy: A program model for providing individual services in the community. In E. Schopler & R. J. Reichler (Eds.),Psychopathology and child development: Research and treatment. New York: Plenum, 1976. Pp. 347–372.
Rimland, B.Infantile autism. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1964.
Ritvo, E., Cantwell, D., Johnson, E., Clements, M., Benbrook, F., Slagle, S., Kelly, P., & Ritz, M. Social class factors in autism.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1971,1, 297–310.
Rutter, M. Diagnosis and definition of childhood autism.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1978,8, 139–161.
Rutter, M., & Lockyer, L. A. Five to fifteen year follow-up study of infantile psychosis. I. Description of sample.British Journal of Psychiatry, 1967,113, 1169–1182.
Schain, R. J., & Yannet, H. Infantile autism: An analysis of fifty cases and a consideration of certain neurophysiologic concepts.Journal of Pediatrics, 1960,57, 560–567.
Schopler, E., Daly, K., Bentz, E., & Reichler, R.J.A rating scale for autistic children. In preparation.
Schopler, E., & Reichler, R. J. How well do parents understand their own psychotic child?Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1972,2, 387–400.
Treffert, D. Epidemiology of infantile autism.Archives of General Psychiatry, 1970,22, 431–438.
Von Brauchitsch, H. K., & Kirk, W. E. Childhood schizophrenia and social class.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1967,37, 400.
Ward, T. F., & Hoddinott, B. A. A study of childhood schizophrenia and early infantile autism. I. Description of the sample.Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal, 1965,10, 377–386.
Wolff, S., & Chess, S. A behavioral study of schizophrenic children.Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 1964,40, 438–466.
Wortis, J. W., & Wortis, H. Who comes to a retardation clinic? Implications for social planning.American Journal of Public Health, 1968,58, 1746–1752.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schopler, E., Andrews, C.E. & Strupp, K. Do autistic children come from upper-middle-class parents?. J Autism Dev Disord 9, 139–152 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531530
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531530