title: Perceived Social Competence and Loneliness Among Young Children with ASD: Child, Parent and Teacher Reports.
abstract: Perceived loneliness and social competence were assessed for 127 children with ASD without comorbid ID, 4-7 years old, through child self-report. Using an abbreviated version of the Loneliness and Social Dissatisfaction Questionnaire (LSDQ; Cassidy and Asher in Child Dev 63:250-365, 1992), the majority of children reported friendships, yet a considerable proportion also reported social difficulties. Factor analysis of the abbreviated LSDQ identified three factors, which were significantly associated with parent- and teacher-reported variables. Regression analyses revealed parent-reported social skills deficits and teacher-reported conflict in the student-teacher relationship to be associated with child-reported loneliness. Implications for practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA. szeedyk@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Sasha M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zeedyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Education Studies, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Shana R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Boston, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Abbey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisenhower
authors.affiliation: University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blacher
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D057566:Self Report; D066107:Social Skills
keywords: Child self-report; Loneliness; Multi-informant; Social competence; Student–teacher relationships