Are Non-intellectually Disabled Black Youth with ASD Less Impaired on Parent Report than Their White Peers?

Allison B Ratto; Bruno J Anthony; Lauren Kenworthy; Anna Chelsea Armour; Katerina Dudley; Laura Gutermuth Anthony

doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2614-3

Are Non-intellectually Disabled Black Youth with ASD Less Impaired on Parent Report than Their White Peers?

J Autism Dev Disord. 2016 Mar;46(3):773-81. doi: 10.1007/s10803-015-2614-3.

Authors

Allison B Ratto¹, Bruno J Anthony², Lauren Kenworthy³, Anna Chelsea Armour³, Katerina Dudley³, Laura Gutermuth Anthony³

Affiliations

¹ Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, 15245 Shady Grove Rd., Suite 350, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA. aratto@childrensnational.org.
² Center for Child and Human Development, Georgetown University, Box 571485, Washington, DC, 20057-1485, USA.
³ Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, 15245 Shady Grove Rd., Suite 350, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA.

Abstract

There is a lack of research examining differences in functioning in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across ethnicity, particularly among those without intellectual disability (ID). This study investigated ethnic differences in parent-reported impairment in executive function, adaptive behavior, and social-emotional functioning. White and Black youth (n = 64; ages 6-17) with ASD without ID were compared on each of these domains. Black youth had significantly lower levels of impairment on all three domains. Findings may reflect better daily functioning among Black youth with ASD and/or cultural differences in parent response to questionnaires. Regardless, these findings raise concern about the sensitivity of commonly used measures for Black children with ASD and the impact of culture on daily functioning and symptom manifestation.

Keywords: ASD; Adaptive behavior; Black/African-American; Executive function; Race/ethnicity; Social–emotional functioning.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological*
Adolescent
Autism Spectrum Disorder / diagnosis
Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology*
Black People / psychology*
Executive Function*
Female
Humans
Male
Parents*
Social Adjustment*
White People / psychology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding