The impact of sociodemographic variables on the autistic symptoms and maladaptive behavior among a sample of Jordanian children with autistic disorder

Abstract EN

Introduction : Although autistic disorder (AD) is a global disorder, relatively little is known about its phenomenology and sociodemographic correlates in developing countries, such as Jordan.

Aims : To investigate the impact of sociodemographic variables on the autistic symptoms (AS) and maladaptive behavior (MB).

Methods : After informed consent was obtained from the parent or guardian, DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of autistic disorder was assigned in each child by a clinical interview based on DSM-IV–TR criteria.

The clinical diagnosis of autistic disorder was corroborated using the Arabic version of the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA).

The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale of Intelligence (WISC) were used for the assessment of child psychopathology and intelligence respectively.

Results : 22 Children received a diagnosis of autistic disorder in Amman (Jordan).

There was a significant main effect of gender for the emotional responsiveness and behavior patterns subscales of ISAA, the delinquent behavior and social problems subscales of CBCL.

The interaction between education and socioeconomic status was statistically significant for the social relationship and reciprocity ISAA subscales and social problems, attention problems, aggressive behavior subscales and total CBCL.

IQ was significant for social relationship and reciprocity, speech-language and communication, sensory aspects, cognitive component subscales of ISAA and the withdrawn, somatic problems, social problems, thought problems, attention problems and aggressive behavior subscales of CBCL.

Conclusions : Findings from the current study suggested that the clinical presentation of autistic symptoms and comorbid behavior problems are shaped by various socio-cultural factors.

Future studies are important to examine the differences in how children with autistic disorder function within different cultural settings.