title: Parental attitudes, attachment styles, social networks, and psychological processes in autism spectrum disorders: a cross-cultural perspective.
abstract: In this study the authors used a cross-cultural approach to examine parental attitudes, attachment styles, social networks, and some of the psychological processes involved in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Fifty-two children (aged 4-11 years) took part in the study: 30 Italians (15 with ASD and 15 controls) and 22 Cubans (11 with ASD and 11 controls). Findings indicated significant differences between the two cultural groups in terms of the structure of the children's social network and parental attitudes toward their children. However, the mother-child attachment relationship and cognitive and emotional functioning of the study participants were independent of culture.
authors.affiliation: University of Bergamo, Department of Human Sciences, Piazzale S. Agostino 2, 24129 Bergamo, Italy. igorsotgiu@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sotgiu
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galati
authors.forename: Mayra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manzano
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gandione
authors.forename: Kyuttzza
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Yuniel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rigardetto
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003462:Cuba / Q000208:ethnology; D056348:Emotional Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000208:ethnology; D009769:Object Attachment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012944:Social Support; D056345:Theory of Mind / Q000502:physiology*