Journal article
Social competence in autism: A structural equation modeling approach
Autism research, v 17(4), pp 761-774
Apr 2024
PMID: 38481386
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Autistic individuals present with difficulties in social competence (e.g., navigating social interactions and fostering relationships). Clinical interventions widely target social cognition and social behavior, but there is inconsistent understanding of the underlying components of social competence. The present study used structural equation modeling to examine social cognition and social behavior and explore the relationship between these latent constructs. Autistic youth (ages 10-17; n = 219) and their caregivers participated in this study. Constructs of social cognition and social behavior were captured using caregiver-report and self-report rating scales, as well as observational measures and direct clinical assessments (e.g., NEPSY-II). Measurement models of social cognition and social behavior demonstrated adequate to good fit. Correlational models demonstrated adequate to poor fit, indicating latent constructs of social cognition and social behavior are not closely related in autistic youth. Exploratory examination of a subsample of male youth (n = 157) evidenced improved model fit of social behavior, specifically. Findings tease apart social cognition and social behavior as cohesive and separable constructs; results do not support a structural relationship between social cognition and social behavior. Noted treatment implications include consideration of how targeting social cognition and social behavior together or separately may support autistic youth's progress toward reaching their identified therapeutic goals and supporting their self-directed social development.
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Details
- Title
- Social competence in autism: A structural equation modeling approach
- Creators
- G L Simmons - Youth DevelopmentB A Corbett - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterM D Lerner - Stony Brook UniversityK Wofford - University of South FloridaS W White - University of Alabama
- Publication Details
- Autism research, v 17(4), pp 761-774
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Grant note
- UL1 TR000445 / NCATS NIH HHS P50 HD103537 / NICHD NIH HHS MH114906 / NIMH NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001184530700001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85188101373
- Other Identifier
- 991021863133504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Behavioral Sciences
- Psychology, Developmental