title: The Relation between Severity of Autism and Caregiver-Child Interaction: a Study in the Context of Relationship Development Intervention.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the relations between severity of children's autism and qualities of parent-child interaction. We studied these variables at two points of time in children receiving a treatment that has a focus on social engagement, Relationship Development Intervention (RDI; Gutstein 2009). Participants were 18 parent-child dyads where the child (16 boys, 2 girls) had a diagnosis of autism and was between the ages of 2 and 12 years. The severity of the children's autism was assessed at baseline and later in treatment using the autism severity metric of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS; Gotham et al. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 693-705 2009). Although the ADOS was designed as a diagnostic measure, ADOS calibrated severity scores (CSS) are increasingly used as one index of change (e.g., Locke et al. Autism, 18, 370-375 2014). Videotapes of parent-child interaction at baseline and later in treatment were rated by independent coders, for a) overall qualities of interpersonal relatedness using the Dyadic Coding Scales (DCS; Humber and Moss The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75, 128-141 2005), and b) second-by-second parent-child Co-Regulation and Intersubjective Engagement (processes targeted by the treatment approach of RDI). Severity of autism was correlated with lower quality of parent-child interaction. Ratings on each of these variables changed over the course of treatment, and there was evidence that improvement was specifically related to the quality of parent-child interaction at baseline.
authors: Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK. jessica.hobson@sonoma.edu.|Department of Psychology, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA, 94928, USA. jessica.hobson@sonoma.edu.
authors: Jessica A
authors: JA
authors: Hobson
authors: Department of Speech and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Tarver
authors: Horizons Developmental Resource Center, Caledonia, MI, USA.
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Beurkens
authors: Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors: R Peter
authors: RP
authors: Hobson
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Autism; Joint attention; Parent-child interaction; Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)