title: The Role of Theory of Mind on Social Information Processing in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Mediation Analysis.
abstract: Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) show significant impairments in social skills and theory of mind (ToM). The aim of this study was to evaluate ToM and social information processing abilities in 52 children with ASD compared to 55 typically developing (TD) children. A mediation analysis evaluated whether social information processing abilities can be mediated by ToM competences. In our results, children with autism showed a deficit in social skills and ToM components. The innovative results of our study applying mediation analysis demonstrate that ToM plays a key role in the development of social abilities, and the lack of ToM competences in children with autism impairs their competent social behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'aquila, L'aquila, Italy. monica.mazza@cc.univaq.it.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1208-8682
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'aquila, L'aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariano
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'aquila, L'aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peretti
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'aquila, L'aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Masedu
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'aquila, L'aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pino
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'aquila, L'aquila, Italy.|Reference Regional Centre for Autism, Abruzzo Region Health System, L'aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valenti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D066107:Social Skills; D056345:Theory of Mind
keywords: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD); Mediation analysis; Social cognition; Social information processing; Theory of mind (ToM)