<p> Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by deficits in social interaction. Research with ASD children has dramatically underrepresented fathers, who have only recently been considered as targets for parenting interventions and research. Parenting research with typically developing (TD) children has found that parental involvement (of mothers and fathers) is associated with child social development. Extending such findings to the ASD field is important as social development is a primary concern within this population. The present study sought to do so through an internet questionnaire targeting mothers and fathers. Specifically, this study examined associations between mother involvement, father involvement and their interaction with child social skills in families of children with ASD using multilevel modeling in a multi-rater, multi-measure design. We proposed a model in which parental involvement may foster child social development, but also noted child that social skills may encourage or discourage parental involvement. Father, but not mother, involvement (quality) and engagement (time) were each found to significantly and positively predict child social skills in 101 families of children with ASD. Implications of these findings for research and intervention are discussed.</p>

<p> The association between stress and illness is well recognized. One recently proposed pathway between these constructs is the Allostatic Load framework, which is a biological-process model in which chronic stress is linked to physiological dysregulation. The current study tested one part of the Allostatic Load process model by looking at a spectrum of chronic stressors experienced in everyday life by healthy, typically&macr;-developing children during middle childhood, to find out whether their exposures are associated with the development of Allostatic Load at age 15. This was done by utilizing the National Institute of Child Health and Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD SECCYD) data and drawing on the Allostatic Load model. The level of chronic stress experienced during middle childhood is associated positively with Allostatic Load in adolescence. The Home/Family context is more predictive of Allostatic Load in adolescence than stress experienced in the Extrafamilial context. However, this relationship is moderated by the sex of the research participant: the relationship between Home/Family stress and Allostatic Load was only significant for males. In contrast, the relationship between Extrafamilial stress and Allostatic Load was only significant for females.</p>

<p> Although the deleterious social and emotional effects of trauma exposure on adults and older children are well documented, less is known about the effects of trauma on young children. Preliminary studies have indicated that young children (a) are exposed to traumatic events (e.g. Perry et al., 1995; Mongillo et al., 2009) (b) experience social and emotional problems (e.g. Scheeringa et al., 2006; Bogat et al., 2006) and (c) are affected by the caregiver-child relationship (e.g. Osfosky, 2000). However, no known study has compared social and emotional problems among trauma-exposed young children to a comparison group of non trauma-exposed young children connected to mental health services. This study aimed to strengthen the research and clinical literature by examining unique social-emotional and trauma-specific symptoms of 47 trauma-exposed service-involved young children (18 to 69 months of age) compared to 25 non trauma-exposed, service-connected young children. Additionally, this study examined the predictive nature of child temperament and the caregiver-child relationship (i.e. caregiver affect, responsiveness and intrusiveness) on the severity of the child's internalizing symptoms. Seventy-two young children and their primary caregivers, mostly mothers (82%) participated in the current study. Trauma exposure, social/emotional problems, and trauma-specific symptoms were measured by a variety of caregiver reports and interviews. Further, the caregiver-child relationship was examined using the Crowell Modified Parent-Child Relationship Scale. Regarding trauma exposure, 65.2% of the sample was exposed to a traumatic event, with many children (54%) being exposed to multiple traumatic events. Among trauma-exposed children, approximately 10% were exhibiting trauma-related reactions. Among MANCOVA and ANCOVAs, no statistically significant differences emerged among trauma-exposed and non trauma-exposed young children for social and emotional problems, trauma-specific symptoms, or observed distress in the caregiver-child relationship. Child temperament and caregiver depressive symptoms statistically significantly predicted child outcomes. In a hierarchical multiple regression examining the predictive nature of the caregiver-child relationship, only child temperament emerged as a statistically significant predictor. </p><p> Despite null findings, this study served as a pilot study examining unique social/emotional problems among service-involved trauma-exposed and non trauma-exposed young children allowing future studies to determine recommended sample sizes (200 and above is needed). Issues related to assessment of trauma symptoms in young children are discussed. Recommendations are provided for clinicians. For example, both child temperament and caregiver distress should be a focus of assessment and intervention in trauma-exposed young children. Detailed recommendations are provided to improve the reliability and validity of the Modified Parent-Child Relationship Scale. Recruitment recommendations and future directions are offered.</p>

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1993. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-04, Section: B, page: 2240. Chair: Nancy G. Bliwise.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1997. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 58-02, Section: B, page: 1004.