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Anxiety and Depression in Children with HFASDs: Symptom Levels and Source Differences

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to: (1) examine symptom levels of anxiety and depression in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFASDs) compared with matched control children using child self-reports and parent ratings; and (2) examine source differences within the two condition groups. An overall multivariate effect indicated significantly elevated depression and anxiety symptoms for children with HFASDs based on parent reports; however no significant between-group differences based on child self-reports. Within-condition source comparisons (parent vs. child) revealed a significant multivariate effect indicating a significant difference in symptoms of depression and anxiety for the HFASD group but none for the control. Correlations between parent and child reports for the HFASD group suggested some positive association between child-reports and parent-reports for depressive symptoms only; however, the difference in average scores reflected a substantial discrepancy in the magnitude of symptoms by rater. Implications for clinical assessment and future research are provided.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded in part by research grants from the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences (R324A080136) and the John R. Oishei Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Autism Research, Health Sciences 216, Canisius College, 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14208-1098, USA

    Christopher Lopata & Marcus L. Thomeer

  2. Summit Educational Resources, Getzville, NY, USA

    Jennifer A. Toomey & Christin A. McDonald

  3. Autistic Services Inc, Williamsville, NY, USA

    Jeffery D. Fox

  4. Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Martin A. Volker, Sabrina Y. Chow, Gloria K. Lee, Jonathan D. Rodgers, Christin A. McDonald & Audrey M. Smerbeck

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  1. Christopher Lopata
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  2. Jennifer A. Toomey
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  3. Jeffery D. Fox
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Correspondence to Christopher Lopata.

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Lopata, C., Toomey, J.A., Fox, J.D. et al. Anxiety and Depression in Children with HFASDs: Symptom Levels and Source Differences. J Abnorm Child Psychol 38, 765–776 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-010-9406-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-010-9406-1

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