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Predicting Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Children with ASD: Evaluation of a Contextual Model of Parental Factors

  • S.I. : Parenting Children with ASD
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Abstract

Parental adjustment, parenting behaviors, and child routines have been linked to internalizing and externalizing child behavior. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a comprehensive model examining relations among these variables in children with ASD and their parents. Based on Sameroff’s Transactional Model of Development (Sameroff in: The transactional model of development: How children and contexts shape each other, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, 2009), researchers hypothesized that these factors would collectively predict child behavior. Parents (n = 67) completed measures of parental adjustment, parenting behaviors, child routines, and child behavior using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, Child Routines Inventory, and Child Behavior Checklist, respectively. Results indicated that parental adjustment predicted harsh/disengaged parenting (B = 0.17, p < .01) and internalizing behavior (B = 0.32, p < .01). Harsh/disengaged parenting and warm/supportive parenting predicted externalizing behavior (B = 0.59, p < .01) and internalizing behavior (B = − 0.49 p < .01), respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1401 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA

    Elizabeth M. McRae, Laura Stoppelbein & Sarah E. O’Kelley

  2. Glenwood Autism and Behavioral Health, Glenwood, Inc., 150 Glenwood Lane, Birmingham, AL, 353242, USA

    Laura Stoppelbein

  3. Dole Center for Human Development, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA

    Paula Fite

  4. University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS, 39216, USA

    Leilani Greening

  5. Department of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA

    Paula Fite

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  1. Elizabeth M. McRae
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  2. Laura Stoppelbein
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  3. Sarah E. O’Kelley
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  4. Paula Fite
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  5. Leilani Greening
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Contributions

EMM was involved with all aspects of the project from initial study conceptualization to data collection, data analysis, manuscript preparation and interpretation of results. LS was also involved in all aspects of the project. These included study conceptualization, data collection and analyses, interpretation of results and manuscript preparation. SEO assisted with the study conceptualization, interpretations of findings, and manuscript preparation. PF assisted with study conceptualization, data analyses, and interpretation of findings. Finally, LG was involved in the study conceptualization and data collection.

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Correspondence to Laura Stoppelbein.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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McRae, E.M., Stoppelbein, L., O’Kelley, S.E. et al. Predicting Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Children with ASD: Evaluation of a Contextual Model of Parental Factors. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 1261–1271 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3368-x

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