Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Parent–Child Interaction in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Siblings: Choosing a Coding Strategy

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The parent-child interaction strongly influences the emotional, behavioural, and cognitive development of young children. The nature of parent-child interactions differs in families with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but research still entails a lot of inconsistencies and there is no consensus as to how these interactions should be coded. The parent-child interaction between sixteen mothers and their child with ASD (M age = 68 months) and a younger sibling without ASD (M age = 48 months) in a within-family study were coded using both a global and frequency coding scheme. Global and frequency codes of the same sample were compared to explore the value of each coding method and how they could complement each other. In addition, each coding method’s ability to detect group differences was evaluated. We found that mothers used an interaction style characterized by more support and structure, and clearer instructions in interaction with their children without ASD. In addition, global rating results suggested that within the ASD group, mothers may adapt their behaviour to the specific abilities of their child. Regarding the evaluation of coding method, results showed overlap between conceptually similar constructs included in both coding schemes. Although frequency coding clearly has its value, more qualitative aspects of the interaction were better captured by global rating scales and global rating was more time efficient. For this purpose, global ratings might be preferable over frequency coding.

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

  • Adamson, L. B., Bakeman, R., Deckner, D. F., & Nelson, P. B. (2012). Rating parent–child interactions: Joint engagement, communication dynamics, and shared topics in autism, Down syndrome, and typical development. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(12), 2622–2635.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Aldred, C., Green, J., & Adams, C. (2004). A new social communication intervention for children with autism: pilot randomised controlled treatment study suggesting effectiveness. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45(8), 1420–1430.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bakeman, R., & Quera, V. (2011). Sequential analysis and observational methods for the behavioural sciences.. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, J. K., Messinger, D. S., Lyons, K. K., & Grantz, C. J. (2010). A pilot study of maternal sensitivity in the context of emergent autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(8), 988–999.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bedford, R., Elsabbagh, M., Gliga, T., Pickles, A., Senju, A., Charman, T., & Johnson, M. H. (2012). Precursors to social and communication difficulties in infants at-risk for autism: Gaze following and attentional engagement. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(10), 2208–2218.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Casenhiser, D. M., Shanker, S. G., & Stieben, J. (2013). Learning through interaction in children with autism: Preliminary data from a social-communication-based intervention. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 17(2), 220–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charman, T., Pickles, A., Simonoff, E., Chandler, S., Loucas, T., & Baird, G. (2011). IQ in children with autism spectrum disorders: data from the Special Needs and Autism Project (SNAP). Psychological Medicine, , 41(3), 619–627. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21272389 Retrieved from.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clifford, S., & Dissanayake, C. (2009). Dyadic and triadic behaviours in infancy as precursors to later social responsiveness in young children with autistic disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(10), 1369–1380. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19475503 Retrieved from.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, N. O., & Carter, A. S. (2008). Parenting stress in mothers and fathers of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders: Associations with child characteristics. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(7), 1278–1291.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, G. (2008). Early behavioral intervention, brain plasticity, and the prevention of autism spectrum disorder. Development and Psychopathology, 20(3), 775–803.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, G., Hill, D., Spencer, A., Galpert, L., & Watson, L. (1990). Affective exchanges between young autistic children and their mothers. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 18(3), 335–345.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Delmonte, S., Balsters, J. H., Mcgrath, J., Fitzgerald, J., Brennan, S., Fagan, A. J., & Gallagher, L. (2012). Social and monetary reward processing in autism spectrum disorders. Molecular Autism, 3(1), 7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Demurie, E., Roeyers, H., Baeyens, D., & Sonuga-Barke, E. (2011). Common alterations in sensitivity to type but not amount of reward in ADHD and autism spectrum disorders. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 52(11), 1164–1173.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doussard–Roosevelt, J. A., Joe, C. M., Bazhenova, O. V., & Porges, S. W. (2003). Mother–child interaction in autistic and nonautistic children: Characteristics of maternal approach behaviors and child social responses. Development and Psychopathology, 15(2), 277–295.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, L. M., & Dunn, L. M. (2005). Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III-NL. Amsterdam: Nederlandse versie Liebeth Schlichting, Harcourt Assessment B.V.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehlers, S., Nydén, A., Gillberg, C., Sandberg, A. D., Dahlgren, S. O., Hjelmquist, E., & Odén, A. (1997). Asperger syndrome, autism and attention disorders: A comparative study of the cognitive profiles of 120 children. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 38(2), 207–217.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elsabbagh, M., & Johnson, M. H. (2010). Getting answers from babies about autism. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 14(2), 81–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Erickson, M. F., Sroufe, L. A., & Egeland, B. (1985). The relationship between quality of attachment and behavior problems in preschool in a high-risk sample. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 50(1/2), 147–166.

    Article  PubMed  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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, S., & Kasari, C. (2013). Parent-child interactions in autism: Characteristics of play. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 17(2), 147–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottlieb, G. (2007). Probabilistic epigenesis. Developmental Science, 10(1), 1–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green, J., Charman, T., McConachie, H., Aldred, C., Slonims, V., & Howlin, P., et al. (2010). Parent-mediated communication-focused treatment in children with autism (PACT): a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 375(9732), 2152–2160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grotevant, H. D., & Carlson, C. I. (1989). Family assessment: A guide to methods and measures.. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haebig, E., McDuffie, A., & Weismer, S. E. (2013). Brief report: Parent verbal responsiveness and language development in toddlers on the autism spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(9), 2218–2227.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, C. D., Sweeney, D. P., Hodge, D., Lopez-Wagner, M. C., & Looney, L. (2009). Parenting stress and closeness mothers of typically developing children and mothers of children with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 24(3), 178–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollingshead, A. B. (1975). Four factor index of social status. New Haven, CT: Yale University. Unpublished manuscript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jocelyn, L. J., Casiro, O. G., Beattie, D., Bow, J., & Kneisz, J. (1998). Treatment of children with autism: A randomized controlled trial to evaluate a caregiver-based intervention program in community day-care centers. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 19(5), 326–334.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kohls, G., Schulte-Rüther, M., Nehrkorn, B., Müller, K., Fink, G. R., & Kamp-Becker, I., et al. (2013). Reward system dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 8(5), 565–572.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lemanek, K. L., Stone, W. L., & Fishel, P. T. (1993). Parent-child interactions in handicapped preschoolers: The relation between parent behaviors and compliance. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 22(1), 68–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., Dilavore, P., & Risi, S. (1999). Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule: Manual. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahoney, G., & Perales, F. (2003). Using relationship-focused intervention to enhance the social emotional functioning of young children with autism spectrum disorders. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 23(2), 74–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meirsschaut, M., Roeyers, H., & Warreyn, P. (2010). Parenting in families with a child with autism spectrum disorder and a typically developing child: Mothers’ experiences and cognitions. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4(4), 661–669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meirsschaut, M., Warreyn, P., & Roeyers, H. (2011). What is the impact of autism on mother–child interactions within families with a child with autism spectrum disorder? Autism Research, 4(5), 358–367.

    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(2), S69–S78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oono, I. P., Honey, E. J., & McConachie, H. (2013). Parent-mediated early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Evidence-Based Child Health: A Cochrane Review Journal, 8(6), 2380–2479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oosterling, I., Visser, J., Swinkels, S., Rommelse, N., Donders, R., & Woudenberg, T., et al. (2010). Randomized controlled trial of the focus parent training for toddlers with autism: 1-year outcome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(12), 1447–1458.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne, L. A., & Reed, P. (2010). Stress and self-perceived parenting behaviors of parents of children with autistic spectrum conditions. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4(3), 405–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozonoff, S., Young, G. S., Belding, A., Hill, M., Hill, A., & Hutman, T., et al. (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.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pellicano, E., Maybery, M., Durkin, K., & Maley, A. (2006). Multiple cognitive capabilities/deficits in children with an autism spectrum disorder: “weak” central coherence and its relationship to theory of mind and executive control. Development and Psychopathology, 18(1), 77–98.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rozga, A., Hutman, T., Young, G. S., Rogers, S. J., Ozonoff, S., Dapretto, M., & Sigman, M. (2011). Behavioral profiles of affected and unaffected siblings of children with autism: Contribution of measures of mother–infant interaction and nonverbal communication. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(3), 287–301.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ruble, L., McDuffie, A., King, A. S., & Lorenz, D. (2008). Caregiver responsiveness and social interaction behaviors of young children with autism. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 28(3), 158–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Le Couteur, A., & Lord, C. (2003b). Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, T., Frosch, E., & Arnold, S. (1987). Communicative interaction between mothers and their autistic children: Application of a new instrument and changes after treatment. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26(4), 485–490.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Siller, M., Hutman, T., & Sigman, M. (2013). A parent-mediated intervention to increase responsive parental behaviors and child communication in children with ASD: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(3), 540–555.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Siller, M., & Sigman, M. (2002). The behaviors of parents of children with autism predict the subsequent development of their children’s communication. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 32(2), 77–89.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Siller, M., & Sigman, M. (2008). Modeling longitudinal change in the language abilities of children with autism: parent behaviors and child characteristics as predictors of change. Developmental Psychology, 44(6), 1691–1704.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sucksmith, E., Roth, I., & Hoekstra, R. A. (2011). Autistic traits below the clinical threshold: Re-examining the broader autism phenotype in the 21st century. Neuropsychology Review, 21(4), 360–389.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, M., Finelli, J., Marvin, A., Garrett-Mayer, E., Bauman, M., & Landa, R. (2007). Response to joint attention in toddlers at risk for autism spectrum disorder: A prospective study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(1), 37–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tellegen, P., Winkel, M., Wijnberg-Williams, B. J., & Laros, J. A. (1998). Snijders-Oomen Niet-verbale Intelligentietest, SON-R 21/2–7. Handleiding. Lisse: Swets & Zeitlinger, B.V.

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Sluis, C. M., van Steensel, F. J. A., & Bögels, S. M. (2015). Parenting and children’s internalizing symptoms: How important are parents? Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(12), 3652–3661.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • van Doorn, M. M., Kuijpers, R. C., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., Bodden, D., Jansen, M., & Granic, I. (2016). Does mother–child interaction mediate the relation between maternal depressive symptoms and children’s mental health problems? Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(4), 1257–1268.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Ijzendoorn, M. H., Rutgers, A. H., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., Swinkels, S. H. N., van Daalen, E., & Dietz, C., et al. (2007). Parental sensitivity and attachment in children with autism spectrum disorder: Comparison with children with mental retardation, with language delays, and with typical development. Child Development, 78(2), 597–608.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wachtel, K., & Carter, A. S. (2008). Reaction to diagnosis and parenting styles among mothers of young children with ASDs. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 12(5), 575–594.

    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, 54(7), 763–771.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wan, M. W., Green, J., Elsabbagh, M., Johnson, M., Charman, T., Plummer, F., & Team, B. (2012). Parent–infant interaction in infant siblings at risk of autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33(3), 924–932.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Warreyn, P., Raymaekers, R., & Roeyers, H. (2004). Handleiding Vragenlijst Sociale Communicatie. Destelbergen: SIG vzw.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yirmiya, N., Gamliel, I., Pilowsky, T., Feldman, R., Baron-Cohen, S., & Sigman, M. (2006). The development of siblings of children with autism at 4 and 14 months: Social engagement, communication, and cognition. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47(5), 511–523.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research was funded by the Ghent University Research Fund (01D21513).

Author Contributions

C.B. was responsible for coding videos by means of the global rating scales, performed the statistical analyses and interpreted the data, and drafted the manuscript. P.W. participated in the study design, supervised coding, statistical analyses and interpretation of the results, and helped to draft the manuscript. M.M. was responsible for the original study design and data collection/measurements and carried out the frequency codings. H.R. participated in the study design and coordinated the study, assisted in statistical analyses and interpretation of the data, and helped to draft the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Chloè Bontinck

  2. Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Petra Warreyn & Herbert Roeyers

  3. Artevelde University College, Ghent, Belgium

    Mieke Meirsschaut

Authors
  1. Chloè Bontinck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Petra Warreyn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mieke Meirsschaut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Herbert Roeyers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chloè Bontinck.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical Approval

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.

Informed Consent

Informed written consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bontinck, C., Warreyn, P., Meirsschaut, M. et al. Parent–Child Interaction in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Siblings: Choosing a Coding Strategy. J Child Fam Stud 27, 91–102 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0877-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0877-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation