Recognition of emotional facial expressions and broad autism phenotype in parents of children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder

Kadak M. T., DEMIREL O. F., YAVUZ M., Demir T.

COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRY, vol.55, no.5, pp.1146-1151, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 55 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.03.004
  • Journal Name: COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1146-1151
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objective

Research findings debate about features of broad autism phenotype. In this study, we tested whether parents of children with autism have problems recognizing emotional facial expression and the contribution of such an impairment to the broad phenotype of autism.

Method

Seventy-two parents of children with autistic spectrum disorder and 38 parents of control group participated in the study. Broad autism features was measured with Autism Quotient (AQ). Recognition of Emotional Face Expression Test was assessed with the Emotion Recognition Test, consisting a set of photographs from Ekman & Friesen’s.

Results

In a two-tailed analysis of variance of AQ, there was a significant difference for social skills (F(1, 106) = 6.095; p < .05). Analyses of variance revealed significant difference in the recognition of happy, surprised and neutral expressions (F(1, 106) = 4.068, p = .046; F(1, 106) = 4.068, p = .046; F(1, 106) = 6.064, p = .016).

Conclusion

According to our findings, social impairment could be considered a characteristic feature of BAP. ASD parents had difficulty recognizing neutral expressions, suggesting that ASD parents may have impaired recognition of ambiguous expressions as do autistic children.

Objective: Research findings debate about features of broad autism phenotype. In this study, we tested whether parents of children with autism have problems recognizing emotional facial expression and the contribution of such an impairment to the broad phenotype of autism.