A longitudinal comparison of emotional, behavioral and attention problems in autistic and typically developing children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mental health problems are elevated in autistic individuals but there is limited evidence on the developmental course of problems across childhood. We compare the level and growth of anxious-depressed, behavioral and attention problems in an autistic and typically developing (TD) cohort.

Methods

Latent growth curve models were applied to repeated parent-report Child Behavior Checklist data from age 2-10 years in an inception cohort of autistic children (Pathways, N = 397; 84% boys) and a general population TD cohort (Wirral Child Health and Development Study; WCHADS; N = 884, 49% boys). Percentile plots were generated to quantify the differences between autistic and TD children.

Results

Autistic children showed elevated levels of mental health

SUBMITTER: Wright N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10755241 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature