Multiple genetic and environmental factors have roles in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Thus, researchers have become increasingly interested in studying family members of individuals with ASD in order to examine possible risk factors and to identify early markers of the disorder. While family history of ASD may put an individual at risk for developing autism, there is limited research examining how the degree of relationship to the affected individual may be related to an individuals presenting ASD symptomatology. Because closer familial relationships (i.e., first-degree relatives) have more shared genetic material and tend to have increased common environment than more distal relationships (i.e., second- or third-degree relatives), the present study aimed to examine if there was an association between degree of relationship and autism symptomatology in young children with a family history of ASD. Participants included 470 young children (M = 25.64 months, SD = 5.07) recruited through a statewide early intervention program who were diagnosed with ASD or identified as atypically developing with a family history of ASD. Regression analyses were conducted to investigate the relationships between group (e.g., ASD and atypically developing), degree of relationship (e.g., first-degree and second- or third-degree), and the interaction between group and degree of relationship and ASD symptomatology. Implications and clinical utility of these results are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LSU/oai:etd.lsu.edu:etd-04052017-221338 |
| Date | 21 April 2017 |
| Creators | Estabillo, Jasper Abarte |
| Contributors | Matson, Johnny, Davis, Thompson, Lane, Sean |
| Publisher | LSU |
| Source Sets | Louisiana State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-04052017-221338/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached herein a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to LSU or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below and in appropriate University policies, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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