Emotional and behavioral problems in Japanese preschool children with subthreshold autistic traits: findings from a community-based sample

Aya Shirama; Andrew Stickley; Yoko Kamio; Aya Saito; Hideyuki Haraguchi; Ayumu Wada; Kazuki Sueyoshi; Tomiki Sumiyoshi

doi:10.1186/s12888-022-04145-1

Emotional and behavioral problems in Japanese preschool children with subthreshold autistic traits: findings from a community-based sample

BMC Psychiatry. 2022 Jul 26;22(1):499. doi: 10.1186/s12888-022-04145-1.

Authors

Aya Shirama¹, Andrew Stickley², Yoko Kamio^{2

3}, Aya Saito^{2

4}, Hideyuki Haraguchi², Ayumu Wada², Kazuki Sueyoshi², Tomiki Sumiyoshi²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashicho, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553, Japan. shiramaaya@gmail.com.
² Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashicho, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553, Japan.
³ Institute of Education and Human Development, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610, Japan.
⁴ Human Science Division, Faculty of Core Research, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610, Japan.

Abstract

Background: Recently, there has been a growing recognition that autistic traits exist along a continuum beyond diagnostic categories and that even subclinical symptoms may be associated with an increased risk for the psychosocial well-being and mental health of children. However, as yet, there has been little research on whether preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms, who do not meet the diagnostic criteria for ASD, are more likely to experience difficulties. To address this deficit this study examined whether young children with subthreshold autistic traits have an increased risk for emotional/behavioral difficulties.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 1057 Japanese preschool children aged 5-years old collected during the first wave of the Tama Children's Survey (TCS) cohort study. Parent-reported autistic traits were assessed with the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), while they provided information on their child's emotional/behavioral problems using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations.

Results: Preschool children with mild-to-moderate autistic traits, corresponding to subclinical autism were significantly more likely to score above the clinical thresholds for emotional/behavioral problems compared to children with fewer autistic traits. Follow-up diagnostic assessments and analyses of 72 children from the cohort confirmed these findings and showed that these children with subthreshold autistic traits also had a significantly lower intelligence quotient (IQ) as measured by the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI).

Conclusions: Although subthreshold autistic traits are difficult to define due to the sometimes vague border between typical and atypical development, there may be a large number of preschool children with subthreshold autistic traits, who may have an increased risk for a variety of different emotional/behavioral difficulties as well as lower cognitive functioning.

Keywords: Cognitive function; Emotional and behavioral problems; Preschool children; Subthreshold autistic traits.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder* / diagnosis
Autism Spectrum Disorder* / psychology
Autistic Disorder* / psychology
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Humans
Japan
Problem Behavior*