Identifying the Cognitive Correlates of Reciprocity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Szu-Shen Lai; Ching-Hong Tsai; Chin-Chin Wu; Cheng-Te Chen; Hsing-Jung Li; Kuan-Lin Chen

doi:10.1007/s10803-019-03957-7

Identifying the Cognitive Correlates of Reciprocity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

J Autism Dev Disord. 2020 Jun;50(6):2007-2018. doi: 10.1007/s10803-019-03957-7.

Authors

Szu-Shen Lai^{1

2}, Ching-Hong Tsai³, Chin-Chin Wu^{4

5}, Cheng-Te Chen⁶, Hsing-Jung Li³, Kuan-Lin Chen^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Rd., Tainan City, 701, Taiwan, R.O.C.
² Occupational Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation, Taoyuan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 123, Dinghu Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City, Taiwan, R.O.C.
³ Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital, No. 130, Kaisyuan 2nd. Rd., Lingya Dist., Kaohsiung City, 802, Taiwan, R.O.C.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shiquan 1st Rd., Sanmin Dist., Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, R.O.C.
⁵ Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No. 100, Ziyou 1st Rd., Sanmin Dist., Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, R.O.C.
⁶ Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Tsing Hua University, No. 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C.
⁷ Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Rd., Tainan City, 701, Taiwan, R.O.C.. klchen@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
⁸ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Rd., Tainan City, 701, Taiwan, R.O.C.. klchen@mail.ncku.edu.tw.

PMID: 30847708
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-03957-7

Abstract

This study examined the cognitive correlates of reciprocity in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 59 children with ASD were assessed with the Interactive Drawing Task, Theory of Mind Task Battery, Children's Card Change Sort Task, and Children's Gambling Task respectively for their reciprocity, theory of mind, cool executive function (EF), and hot EF. The correlational findings revealed that cool EF (r = .482 and - .501, p < .01) and hot EF (r = .396, p < .05) were significantly correlated with children's total reciprocity. The regression models also showed that cool and hot EF abilities were significant predictors. Conclusively, cool and hot EF abilities are the correlates of reciprocity rather than of ToM in children with ASD.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Executive function; Reciprocity; Theory of mind.

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology*
Child
Cognition*
Executive Function
Female
Humans
Male
Social Behavior
Theory of Mind

Grants and funding

MOST 103-2410-H-006-060/Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan