Examination of the Asperger syndrome profile in children and adolescents: Behaviour, mental health and temperament

This study involves an investigation of age-related differences in features of Asperger syndrome (AS) in a cross-sectional community sample comprised of children (7 to 10 years of age), early adolescents (11 to 13 years of age) and mid-to-late adolescents (14 to 17 years of age). Sixty-seven children and adolescents diagnosed with AS (53 males and 14 females) and their mothers completed questionnaires involving demographic information, AS symptomatology, child mental health and adaptive behaviour, and child temperament. Statistical analyses did not reveal any age- or sex-related differences in AS symptomatology. Age-related deficits in adaptive behaviour were identified, specifically in leadership and functional communication, with children performing near the average range of functioning and more marked deficits apparent in the performances of adolescents. Moderate correlations were found between parent and child reports of internalizing behaviours. Internalizing behaviours, rather than externalizing behaviours, were more frequently reported by mothers. Mother reports also suggested that females demonstrated greater anxiety than did males. Males and females did not differ in regard to self-reports of anxiety, but females did indicate higher levels of depression than did males. Self-reports of anxiety and depression did not differ among the three age groups evaluated, though mothers of both groups of adolescents reported significantly higher levels of withdrawal behaviours than mothers of younger children. As to type of fear, results revealed that fears of unknown or unfamiliar experiences or situations were predominant in children's reports, followed in frequency by fears related to social evaluation. Perception of difference was found to be related to children's reports of anxiety and depression, with those participants indicating that they felt different from their peers also reporting higher levels of anxiety and depression. Parent reports of child behaviour, however, did not significantly differ with perception of difference. Analyses involving parent reports of child temperament revealed that low approach/withdrawal was characteristic of the entire sample. Approach/withdrawal was moderately correlated with parent and child reports of internalizing behaviours. Results are discussed in relation to existing evidence. Limitations of the study are presented, including issues on sample size and measurement. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.