title: Social engagement with parents in 11-month-old siblings at high and low genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: Infant siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder are at heightened genetic risk to develop autism spectrum disorder. We observed high risk (n = 35) and low risk (n = 27) infants at 11 months during free play with a parent. Children were assessed for autism spectrum disorder in toddlerhood. High-risk infants with a later diagnosis (n = 10) were less socially engaged with their parents than were low-risk infants. Parent behavior during play did not vary by group. Within the high-risk group, ratings of social reciprocity at 11 months predicted Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule severity scores at follow-up, suggesting that systematic observations of parent-infant play may be a useful addition to early assessments of emerging autism spectrum disorder.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, USA sbcamp@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Susan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, USA.
authors.forename: Nina B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Leezenbaum
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, USA.
authors.forename: Taylor N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, USA.
authors.forename: Emily N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: autism spectrum disorder; high-risk infant siblings; parent–child interaction; social engagement