title: Relationship between temperament, character and the autistic trait in parents of children with autistic spectrum disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have revealed distinct features of autism, with higher harm avoidance and lower reward dependence and novelty seeking. It is assumed that high harm avoidance, and low novelty seeking, reward dependence, cooperativeness, and self-directedness are related with the broad autism phenotype, as seen in autistic individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined the association between the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), in parents of children with ASD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was significant correlation between total AQ and total harm avoidance, cooperativeness, and self-directedness (p < 0.05). In the stepwise analysis, self-directedness and education emerged significantly (F(2,67) = 19.71, p < .005). This model modestly explained 35% of variance (Adjusted R(2) = .350).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that self-directedness may be an autistic trait.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Medical School , İstanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammed Tayyib
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Kadak
authors.forename: Ömer Faruk
authors.initials: ÖF
authors.lastname: Demirel
authors.forename: Burcu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gökalp
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Erdoğdu
authors.forename: Ayşegül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demirel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D013694:Temperament; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Temperament and character; autism; broad autism phenotype; parent