Behavioral problems and parenting style among Taiwanese children with autism and their siblings.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the behavioral problems and parenting style among children with autism and their siblings in an ethnic Chinese population.


METHODS
A total of 151 children with DSM-IV autistic disorder, aged 3-12, 134 siblings without autism, and 113 normally developing controls were recruited. Both parents reported their parenting styles and psychological status and mothers also reported children's behavioral problems.


RESULTS
Children with autism had significantly more severe behavioral problems and obtained less affection and more overprotection and authoritarian controlling from their parents than the other two groups. Compared to the controls, unaffected siblings showed some behavioral problems, and obtained less maternal care. Withdrawal and attention, social, and thought problems were the most associated behavioral syndromes to distinguish children with autism from those without.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to children with autism, who have a wide range of behavioral problems and impaired parent-child interactions, their siblings may be at risk for such problems.
Gau
Susan Shur-Fen
SS
Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chou
Miao-Churn
MC
Lee
Ju-Chin
JC
Wong
Ching-Ching
CC
Chou
Wen-Jiun
WJ
Chen
Ming-Fang
MF
Soong
Wei-Tsuen
WT
Wu
Yu-Yu
YY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology; D001290:Attitude; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*; D013624:Taiwan