DOI:10.6129/CJP.202109_63(3).0004
Chinese Journal of Psychology 2021, Vol.63, No.3, 285-308
Adaptive Behavior Profiles and Their Association with Cognitive Ability and Symptom Severity in Children with HighFunctioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
Pei-Wen Yeh（Department of Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical University）；Tzu-Ling Lin（Research Center for Education and Mind Science, National Tsing Hua University）；Chung-Hsin Chiang（Department of Psychology, National ChengChi University；Research Center for Mind, Brain and Learning, National ChengChi University）
Abstract
Purpose: This study explores the profiles of adaptive behaviors in school-going children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) and their relationship with intelligence quotient (IQ) and the severity of ASD symptoms. Methods: Sixty-eight seven- to 12-year-old children with HFASD were divided into intellectually gifted (IG_ HFASD) and non-intellectually gifted (Non-IG_HFASD) groups based on their IQ. The groups’ adaptive behaviors were compared by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Second Edition. The correlations between these behaviors and IQ as well as the severity of ASD symptoms were also examined in each group. Results: The IG_HFASD group performed significantly better than the Non-IG_HFASD group in the Communication domain. There were no differences between the groups in other domains of behavior. According to the observation assessment, the Non-IG_HFASD group had more repetitive/stereotypical behaviors than the IG_HFASD group. Among all the children, there was a positive correlation between IQ and the Communication domain, and a negative one between severity and Socialization domains. Examining the correlations in each group revealed that the IG_HFASD group had a moderately negative one between severity and the Daily Living as well as Socialization domains; no significant correlations were found between their IQ and any adaptive behaviors. In contrast, in the Non-IG_HFASD group, non-verbal intelligence was mainly associated with the Socialization domain.Conclusion: IQ is mainly associated with the Communication domain of adaptive behaviors in children with HFASD. The severity of ASD symptoms plays an important role in the Socialization domain and other subdomains. Notably, the two groups show distinct levels of correlations between adaptive behaviors and IQ as well as severity.
Keyword: high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD), severity, intelligence quotient, adaptive behavior
