Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Diary Reports of Concerns in Mothers of Infant Siblings of Children with Autism Across the First Year of Life

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We examined the home-based concerns reported by mothers of infant siblings of children with autism across the first year of life. At all three ages measured, mothers of high-risk infants were significantly more likely than mothers of low-risk infants to report language, social communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior concerns but were not more likely to report general, medically based concerns. At 6 and 9 months of age, maternal concerns were poorly related to infant or family variables. At 12 months of age, there were moderate correlations between maternal concerns and infant behavior, and concerns were associated with the proband’s autism symptoms and mothers’ concurrent depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the need to examine high-risk infants’ development in the family context.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bailey, D. B., Golden, R. N., Roberts, J., & Ford, A. (2007). Maternal depression and developmental disability: Research critique. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 13, 321–329. doi:10.1002/mrdd.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, T., Boyle, M., Georgiades, K., Georgiades, S., Thompson, A., Duku, E., & Szatmari, P. (2012). Influence of reporting effects on the association between maternal depression and child autism spectrum disorder behaviors. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 53(1), 89–96. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02451.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryson, S. E., McDermott, C., Rombaugh, V., Brian, J., & Zwaigenbaum, L. (2000). The autism observation scale for infants. Toronto, ON: Unpublished Scale.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chawarska, K., Paul, R., Klin, A., Hannigen, S., Dichtel, L. E., & Volkmar, F. (2007). Parental recognition of developmental problems in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(1), 62–72. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0330-8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daniels, J. L., Forssen, U., Hultman, C. M., Cnattingius, S., Savitz, D. A., Feychting, M., & Sparen, P. (2008). Parental psychiatric disorders associated with autism spectrum disorders in the offspring. Pediatrics, 121(5), e1357–e1362. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2296.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Giacomo, A., & Fombonne, E. (1998). Parental recognition of developmental abnormalities in autism. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 7(3), 131–136.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eaton, W. W., Smith, C., Ybarra, M., Muntaner, C., & Tien, A. (2004). Center for epidemiologic studies depression scale: Review and revision (CESD and CESD-R). In M. E. Maruish (Ed.), The use of psychological testing for treatment planning and outcomes assessment, instruments for adults (3rd ed., pp. 363–377). Mahwah, NJ.: Lawrence Erlbuam Associates Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Estes, A., Munson, J., Dawson, G., Koehler, E., Zhou, X.-H., & Abbott, R. (2009). Parenting stress and psychological functioning among mothers of preschool children with autism and developmental delay. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 13(4), 375–387. doi:10.1177/1362361309105658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fergusson, D. M., Lynskey, M. T., & Horwood, L. J. (1993). The effect of maternal depression on maternal ratings of child behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 21(3), 245–269. doi:10.1007/BF00917534.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gamliel, I., Yirmiya, N., Jaffe, D. H., Manor, O., & Sigman, M. (2009). Developmental trajectories in siblings of children with autism: Cognition and language from 4 months to 7 ears. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(8), 1131–1144. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0727-2.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herlihy, L., Knoch, K., Vibert, B., & Fein, D. (2013). Parents’ first concerns about toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: Effect of sibling status. Autism. doi:10.1177/1362361313509731.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hess, C. R., & Landa, R. J. (2012). Predictive and concurrent validity of parent concern about young children at risk for autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(4), 575–584. doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1282-1.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holm, S. (1979). a simple sequentially rejective multiple test procedure. Scandinavian Journal of Statistics, 6(2), 65–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingersoll, B., & Hambrick, D. Z. (2011). The relationship between the broader autism phenotype, child severity, and stress and depression in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(1), 337–344. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2010.04.017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Risi, S., Lambrecht, L., Cook, E. H., Leventhal, B. L., DiLavore, P. C., & Rutter, M. (2000). The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: A standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(3), 205–223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maoz, H., Goldstein, T., Goldstein, B. I., Axelson, D. A., Fan, J., Hickey, M. B., & Birmaher, B. (2014). The effects of parental mood on reports of their children’s psychopathology. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 53(10), 1111–1122. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2014.07.005. e5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, S., Brian, J., Zwaigenbaum, L., Roberts, W., Szatmari, P., Smith, I., & Bryson, S. (2006). Early language and communication development of infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 27, S69–S78. doi:10.1097/00004703-200604002-00004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mullen, E. M. (1995). The Mullen scales of early learning: AGS edition manual. Circle Pines, MN: AGS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munson, J., Dawson, G., Sterling, L., Beauchaine, T., Zhou, A., Koehler, E., & Abbott, R. (2008). Evidence for latent classes of IQ in young children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal Information, 113(6), 439–452. doi:10.1352/2008.113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osterling, J., & Dawson, G. (1994). Early recognition of children with autism: A study of first birthday home videotapes. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24(3), 247–257. doi:10.1007/BF02172225.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ozonoff, S., Iosif, A.-M., Young, G. S., Hepburn, S., Thompson, M., Colombi, C., & Rogers, S. J. (2011a). Onset patterns in autism: Correspondence between home video and parent report. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 50(8), 796–806. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2011.03.012. e1.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ozonoff, S., Losif, A.-M., Baguio, F., Cook, I. C., Hill, M. M. M., Hutman, T., & Young, G. S. (2010). A prospective study of the emergence of early behavioral signs of autism. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 49(3), 256–266. doi:10.1097/00004583-201003000-00009.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ozonoff, S., Young, G. S., Belding, A., Hill, M., Hill, A., Hutman, T., & Iosif, A.-M. (2014). The broader autism phenotype in infancy: When does it emerge? Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 53(4), 398–407. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2013.12.020. e2.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ozonoff, S., Young, G. S., Carter, A., Messinger, D., Yirmiya, N., Zwaigenbaum, L., & Stone, W. L. (2011b). Recurrence risk for autism spectrum disorders: A baby siblings research consortium study. Pediatrics, 128(3), e488–e495. doi:10.1542/peds.2010-2825.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ozonoff, S., Young, G., Steinfeld, M., Hill, M. M., Cook, I., Hutman, T., & Sigman, M. (2009). How early do parent concerns predict later autism diagnosis? Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 30(5), 367–375.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pan, B. A., Rowe, M. L., Singer, J. D., & Snow, C. E. (2005). Maternal correlates of growth in toddler vocabulary production in low-income families. Child Development, 76, 763–782. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2005.00876.x.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rowberry, J., Macari, S., Chen, G., Campbell, D., Leventhal, J. M., Weitzman, C., & Chawarska, K. (2014). Screening for autism spectrum disorders in 12-month-old high-risk siblings by parental report. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2211-x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, M. L., Pan, B. A., & Ayoub, C. (2005). Predictors of variation in maternal talk to children: A longitudinal study of low-income families. Parenting: Science and Practice, 5(3), 259–283. doi:10.1207/s15327922par0503_3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Bailey, A., & Lord, C. (2003). Social communication questionnaire. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saint-Georges, C., Mahdhaoui, A., Chetouani, M., Cassel, R. S., Laznik, M.-C., Apicella, F., & Cohen, D. (2011). Do parents recognize autistic deviant behavior long before diagnosis? Taking into account interaction using computational methods. PLoS One, 6(7), e22393. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022393.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Talbott, M. R., Nelson, C. A., & Tager-Flusberg, H. (2013). Maternal gesture use and language development in infant siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1820-0.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veness, C., Prior, M., Bavin, E., Eadie, P., Cini, E., & Reilly, S. (2012). Early indicators of autism spectrum disorders at 12 and 24 months of age: A prospective, longitudinal comparative study. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 16(2), 163–177. doi:10.1177/1362361311399936.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan, M. W., Green, J., Elsabbagh, M., Johnson, M., Charman, T., & Plummer, F. (2013). Quality of interaction between at-risk infants and caregiver at 12–15 months is associated with 3-year autism outcome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 54(7), 763–771. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12032.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan, M. W., Green, J., Elsabbagh, M., Johnson, M., Charman, T., Plummer, F., & Tucker, L. (2012). Parent–infant interaction in infant siblings at risk of autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33(3), 924–932. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.12.011.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Werner, E., Dawson, G., Osterling, J., & Dinno, N. (2000). Brief report: Recognition of autism spectrum disorder before one year of age: A retrospective study based on home videotapes. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(2), 157–162. doi:10.1023/A:1005463707029.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zwaigenbaum, L., Bryson, S., Rogers, T., Roberts, W., Brian, J., & Szatmari, P. (2005). Behavioral manifestations of autism in the first year of life. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 23, 143–152. doi:10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2004.05.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are extremely grateful to the many children and families who have participated in this study, and to the project staff and interns who have assisted in the data collection, especially Karen Chenausky. This work was supported by grants from the NIH (R01-DC010290 and R21 DC 08637), Autism Speaks, and the Simons Foundation (137186).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Meagan R. Talbott

    Present address: MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Charles A. Nelson

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Charles A. Nelson

  3. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Meagan R. Talbott & Helen Tager-Flusberg

Authors
  1. Meagan R. Talbott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Charles A. Nelson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Helen Tager-Flusberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Meagan R. Talbott.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Talbott, M.R., Nelson, C.A. & Tager-Flusberg, H. Diary Reports of Concerns in Mothers of Infant Siblings of Children with Autism Across the First Year of Life. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 2187–2199 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2383-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2383-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation