This study investigated the impact of perinatal complications on the developing child and the relationship of those complications to the development of autism in an individual. The biological mothers of autistic children (N = 183) completed the Maternal Perinatal Scale, a maternal selfreport which surveys complications of pregnancy and medical conditions of the mother. Archival data on normals (N = 209), obtained during previous perinatal investigations, was utilized as a control group.Previous research in this area has been limited, with no definitive conclusions. All previous investigators have declined to state that events identified in previous research were definitely related to the development of autism.An overall multivariate test was performed to determine if significant differences existed between the autistic and normal subjects. Following this exploration of the data, previously identified complications were entered into a stepwise discriminant analysis in the order of theirtheoretical importance to determine the extent of their contribution to autism. Following this analysis, medical conditions of the mothers (items 27-47 as included on the MPS) were entered into the stepwise analysis to determine their contribution, if any, to autism in the sample.The results of this analysis revealed that the two groups differed significantly on three of the ten factors of the MPS. The overall multivariate test was highly significant and revealed that the groups differed on Factor 2 (Gestational Age), Factor 4 (Maternal Morphology), and Factor 8 (Intrauterine Stress). Moreover, five of the six previously identified items were found to be significant. These were: prescriptions raken during pregnancy, length of labor, viral infection,, abnormal presentation at delivery, and low birthweight. Three of the maternal medical conditions examined were also highly significant and contributed to separation between groups. These were: urinary infection, high temperatures, and depression. These were items which have not been identified in previous investigations.Based on discriminant analysis of the 10 factors of the MPS, 65% of the cases were correctly grouped. The MPS would be a useful clinical tool in identification of those children who are at risk for development of autism. / Department of Educational Psychology
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/181985 |
| Date | January 1992 |
| Creators | Wilkerson, Diana Sue |
| Contributors | Fischer, Wyman E. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | ix, 123, 5 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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