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How Temperament and Personality Contribute to the Maladjustment of Children With Autism

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Abstract

To test the spectrum hypothesis—postulating that clinical and non-clinical samples are primarily differentiated by mean-level differences—, this study evaluates differences in parent-rated temperament, personality and maladjustment among a low-symptom (N = 81), a high-symptom (N = 94) ASD-group, and a comparison group (N = 500). These classic spectrum hypothesis tests are extended by adding tests for similarity in variances, reliabilities and patterns of covariation between relevant variables. Children with ASD exhibit more extreme means, except for dominance. The low- and high-symptom ASD-groups are primarily differentiated by mean sociability and internal distress. Striking similarities in reliability and pattern of covariation of variables suggest that comparable processes link traits to maladaptation in low- and high-symptom children with ASD and in children with and without autism.

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Notes

  1. Based on random distribution methodology, the Rothbart and Five-Factor measure in the comparison group were separately filled in by two different caregivers in 50% of the cases (N = 250). For the other 50% of the data, a single informant rated both the Rothbart and Five-Factor measure (25% mothers, 25% fathers). Analyses of variance revealed no significant mean differences (p < .05) between mothers and fathers in HiPIC-personality and CBQ-temperament. For EATQ-R ratings, one significant difference was found: fathers rated their child higher on Negative Affect than mothers (F (1, 340) = 26.86, p < .001).

  2. Temperament facet level data were only available for EATQ-data. Reports on these facet analyses are available upon request from the first author.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Ph.D. research grant from the National Fund of Scientific Research-Flanders awarded to the first author (Grant nr: 1.1.212.08.N.01). The authors wish to thank Marcia Verhulst for her assistance in the data collection, the autism services centers and all the families that contributed their time to this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Sarah S. W. De Pauw, Ivan Mervielde & Barbara J. De Clercq

  2. Centre for Parenting, Child Welfare and Disabilities, Catholic University Leuven, Andreas Vesaliusstraat 2, 3000, Louvain, Belgium

    Karla G. Van Leeuwen

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  1. Sarah S. W. De Pauw
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Correspondence to Sarah S. W. De Pauw.

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De Pauw, S.S.W., Mervielde, I., Van Leeuwen, K.G. et al. How Temperament and Personality Contribute to the Maladjustment of Children With Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 41, 196–212 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1043-6

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