Relation of social adaptability to theory of mind and executive function in children with autism / 中国心理卫生杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the relation of social adaptability to theory of mind (Tom)and executive function (EF)in Chinese children with autism.Method:Thirty-eight children aged 6.0 -12.9 years and meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)criteria for autism were re-cruited.They were assessed with the Children's Adaptive Behavior Rating Scale,Chinese Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC),Tom test and EF task,then their adaptive quotient (ADQ),intelligence quotient, scores of theory of mind and executive function were obtained.Results:In this sample,the ADQ was (85.4 ± 20.9),the T scores of independent factor,cognitive factor and social self-control factor were separately (40.2 ± 17.3),(43.3 ±15.7)and (42.0 ±16.0).The median total intelligence quotient was (102.1 ±24.0).After con-trolling for age and intelligence quotient,the score of first false belief understanding was positively correlated with social responsibility subsclale score and social self-control factor score (r =0.50,0.45,Ps <0.05).In executive function test,scores of immediate and delayed recall for details of Rey complex figure recall task were negatively correlated with social responsibility subscale score (r =-0.46,-0.47,Ps <0.05).In Stroop tests,the second test time,the forth test time,the forth test error number and alpha numeric connection error number were negatively cor-related with economic activity subscale score (r =-0.63,-0.57,-0.45,-0.57,Ps <0.05).The second test time of Stroop was negatively correlated with the scores of individual choose subscale and social self-control factor (r =-0.46,-0.50,Ps <0.05).Conclusion:It suggests that social adaptability may be related to theory of mind and executive function.The autistic children with better theory of mind and executive function have better social a-daptability.