Mediating Effect of Emotional and Social Competences on Interrelations Between Gender, Age and the Broad Autism Phenotype

Katarzyna Markiewicz; Bożydar L J Kaczmarek; Sara Filipiak

doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04756-1

Mediating Effect of Emotional and Social Competences on Interrelations Between Gender, Age and the Broad Autism Phenotype

J Autism Dev Disord. 2021 Sep;51(9):3017-3027. doi: 10.1007/s10803-020-04756-1. Epub 2020 Oct 23.

Authors

Katarzyna Markiewicz¹, Bożydar L J Kaczmarek², Sara Filipiak³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Psychology and Human Sciences, University of Economics and Innovation, Projektowa 4, 20-209, Lublin, Poland. katarzyna.markiewicz@wsei.lublin.pl.
² Institute of Psychology and Human Sciences, University of Economics and Innovation, Projektowa 4, 20-209, Lublin, Poland.
³ Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Plac Litewski 5, 20-080, Lublin, Poland.

PMID: 33098036
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04756-1

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the mediating role of emotional intelligence and social competences in the relationship between gender and broad autism phenotype (BAP) as well as between age and BAP. It comprised 85 parents of children with ASD. They completed the questionnaires of Autism-Spectrum Quotient, social competences, and emotional intelligence. The results revealed that emotional intelligence in general and its two dimensions: the ability to accept and express emotions and to empathize are important mediators of the relationship between gender and BAP. Also, social competences in general and two of their dimensions: the effectiveness of behavior in intimate situations and in social situations were significant mediators. The relationship between age and BAP could not be confirmed.

Keywords: Age; Autistic traits; Control of emotion; Gender; Parents.

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder* / diagnosis
Autism Spectrum Disorder* / epidemiology
Autistic Disorder*
Emotions
Humans
Phenotype
Social Skills