title: Social problem solving in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) show impairments in social functioning. However, the factors underlying these impairments are poorly understood. Recent evidence has shown that social problem solving is a critical component of effective social functioning.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study sought to examine social information processing as one potential factor contributing to social skills and behavior impairments observed in children with FASD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three children, 20 with FASD (mean age 12.6 years) and 23 typically developing controls (TDC; mean age 12.5 years) were studied. Social information processing was investigated using the Children's Interpersonal Problem Solving task (ChIPS; Shure and Spivack, 1985), which assesses problem solving in response to social dilemmas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with FASD produced fewer relevant responses than TDC and their responses belonged to a fewer number of categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with FASD show reduced ability in generating solutions for social dilemmas. By understanding this weakness, which may partially explain the social skill deficiencies in FASD, targeted therapies may be designed to improve social functioning following prenatal alcohol exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, and Neuroscience and Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. sara.stevens@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Major
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rovet
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koren
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fantus
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nulman
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Desrocher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011340:Problem Solving; D012919:Social Behavior