J Autism Dev Disord [JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Motor Competence and Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents With ADHD: A Comparative Study with Typically Developing Peers.
Martínez NB, Carballo-Afonso R, Campo AG … +1 more , Ayán-Pérez C
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jul · PMID 42387101 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Children and adolescents with ADHD often experience motor coordination challenges that can interfere with the acquisition of fundamental skills such as running, jumping, or balancing. These limitations may affec...
PURPOSE: Children and adolescents with ADHD often experience motor coordination challenges that can interfere with the acquisition of fundamental skills such as running, jumping, or balancing. These limitations may affect their daily functioning and overall physical development, although previous findings in this area remain inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to compare motor competence and physical fitness between children and adolescents with ADHD and their typically developing peers, while also examining age-related differences. METHODS: Participants were recruited from the same school in Spain. ADHD diagnoses were established according to DSM-5 criteria, and inclusion was based on cognitive and health suitability. Motor competence was evaluated using the MABC-2 battery, which classifies performance into red, amber, or green zones based on standard scores and percentiles. Physical fitness was assessed through selected EUROFIT tests, including the 10 × 5 shuttle run, standing broad jump, and Sit & Reach. RESULTS: Children with ADHD showed lower motor competence compared to their typically developing peers. This difference was particularly evident in balance among adolescents. However, no significant differences were observed in physical fitness across age groups or according to diagnostic status. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the need for future research with larger, age-stratified samples and more comprehensive physical fitness evaluations in order to better understand motor competence and physical fitness in youth with ADHD and to inform targeted intervention strategies.
Assessing Camouflaging in Adolescence: Psychometric Evaluation of the German Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q/DE).
Boettcher J, Zapf H, Daubmann A … +4 more , Schimmelmann B, Bindt C, Hohmann S, Micheel J
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jul · PMID 42387100 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Camouflaging refers to compensatory strategies used to conceal autistic traits and has been shown to negatively affect the mental health of autistic individuals. As no German instrument currently exists to measu...
PURPOSE: Camouflaging refers to compensatory strategies used to conceal autistic traits and has been shown to negatively affect the mental health of autistic individuals. As no German instrument currently exists to measure camouflaging, this study aimed to validate a German translation of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q/DE) in autistic and non-autistic adolescents. METHODS: Confirmatory factor analyses tested the original three-factor CAT-Q model in German adolescents (N = 164 autistic, N = 482 non-autistic) using self- and parent-report data. Measurement invariance, rater agreement, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity were evaluated. RESULTS: The three-factor structure was confirmed, and scalar measurement invariance was fully established for sex and age group in both self- and parent-reports. CAT-Q/DE scores were higher in the autism sample than the non-autism sample, with gender differences observed only in the autism group, where females scored higher than males. CAT-Q/DE scores showed moderate to strong associations with anxiety, depression, and stress. Test-retest reliability was moderate in the non-autism sample. Rater agreement was moderate in the autism group and high in the non-autism group. CONCLUSION: The CAT-Q/DE is a reliable and valid self- and parent-report measure for camouflaging in German-speaking adolescents. Further research on camouflaging development and consequences is needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov-NCT05989685.
Behavior Regulation Abilities in Children With Prader-Willi Syndrome and Their Impact on Daily Life: At the Crossroads of Cognitive and Emotional Development.
Famelart N, Camblats AM, Cortadellas J … +10 more , Valette M, Brochado C, Faye S, Molinas C, Glattard M, Maire J, Çabal S, Diene G, Tauber M, Postal V
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jul · PMID 42387099 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare, complex, genetic neurodevelopmental disorder that induces a hypothalamic dysfunction with a global developmental delay and specific trajectories. Behavioral and psychiatric...
PURPOSE: Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare, complex, genetic neurodevelopmental disorder that induces a hypothalamic dysfunction with a global developmental delay and specific trajectories. Behavioral and psychiatric disorders are recurrent in PWS, emerging during childhood and varying considerably in their manifestations. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the relationship between emotion, cognitive and behavioral regulation abilities in children with PWS, and explore the impact on daily life. METHODS: Twenty-five children with PWS aged between 9 and 15 took part in the study, along with an equal number of age-matched control children. A series of assessments was proposed to children and their parents to measure cognitive and executive competencies, affective and behavioral problems, and family impact. RESULTS: The children with PWS were clearly distinguished from the control group, displaying marked deficits in cognitive skills, including executive ones, and affective problems. Inter-task correlation analyses showed that many variables were significantly interrelated in the PWS group, in contrast with the control group. Inter-individual variation was strong and cluster analyses revealed that three subgroups emerged; one marked by cognitive and executive deficits, a second by a high level of affective problems, while a third displayed relatively preserved cognitive, executive and emotional skills. The three clusters did not differ in the family impact. CONCLUSION: The variability of behavioral problems observed in children with PWS seems to be underpinned by cognitive and emotional regulatory mechanisms. This original approach is discussed in light of the literature.
The Role of Peer Victimisation and Parental Mental Health in Internalising Problems: Examining Bidirectional Relationships Across Childhood and Adolescence in Autistic Youth.
Scheske M, Hampton S, Cooper K … +5 more , Zahir R, Midouhas E, Flouri E, Saunders R, Mandy W
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jul · PMID 42380730 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Anxiety and depression ('internalising symptoms') are common in autistic children and young people. For non-autistic youth, there are reciprocal relationships between internalising difficulties and parental ment...
PURPOSE: Anxiety and depression ('internalising symptoms') are common in autistic children and young people. For non-autistic youth, there are reciprocal relationships between internalising difficulties and parental mental health and peer victimisation, but it is unclear whether this holds for their autistic peers. This study investigates longitudinal and bidirectional relationships of parental mental health and peer victimisation with internalising symptoms in autistic children and young people. METHODS: Autistic children and young people in the Millennium Cohort Study (N = 560) were included. Measures were parent-reported. Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models (RI-CLPMs) were estimated to examine bidirectional associations of internalising symptoms with parental mental health and peer victimisation across six timepoints (3- to 17-years-old). RESULTS: Both the RI-CLPM of child internalising symptoms with parental mental health, and with peer victimisation, revealed autoregressive paths across timepoints. Greater peer victimisation at 5-years predicted greater internalising symptoms at 7-years, and these associations were unchanged after accounting for covariates. Parental mental health at 3- and 5-years predicted internalising symptoms at 5- and 7-years, and conversely, internalising symptoms at 14-years predicted greater parental mental health difficulties at 17-years. However, associations between parent mental health and internalising were attenuated after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Peer victimisation may contribute to the development of internalising symptoms in autistic children from a young age. Targeting interventions for environmental factors may be a means to promote better mental health for young autistic people.
An Analysis of the Psychometric Properties of the Pediatric Inventory for Parents: Short Form Among Caregivers of Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Zeleznik TS, Limbers CA
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42377774 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Pediatric caregiver stress specific to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with adverse outcomes, including reduced mental and physical well-being and family functioning. The Pediatric Inventory for Par...
PURPOSE: Pediatric caregiver stress specific to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with adverse outcomes, including reduced mental and physical well-being and family functioning. The Pediatric Inventory for Parents, short-form (PIP-SF), is a self-report measure of pediatric stress in caregivers of children with chronic health conditions. This study aims to fill a gap in the empirical literature by evaluating the psychometric properties of the PIP-SF within the previously excluded pediatric population of caregivers of children with ASD. METHODS: Participants were a national sample of 363 female caregivers of children diagnosed with ASD. They completed the PIP-SF and measures related to general stress, anxiety, gratitude, perceptions of child vulnerability, and ASD characteristics. RESULTS: The PIP-Frequency and PIP-Difficulty demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency. Concurrent and convergent validity were evidenced by statistically significant positive correlations between the PIP-SF and key scales. Supporting discriminant validity, the scales evidenced nonsignificant correlations with a scale measuring gratitude. Scores on both scales did not significantly differ between caregivers of younger versus older children; caregivers of children with higher ASD characteristics. reported statistically significantly higher PIP-SF scores than those with lower characteristics. A unidimensional model for both scales met criteria for good fit. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the current study provide preliminary evidence supporting sufficient validity and reliability of the PIP-SF among female caregivers of children with ASD.
A Scoping Review on Positive Emotions and Affect in Autism.
Moreno L, Manfredi M, Di Poi G … +3 more , Gruber J, McPartland JC, Samson AC
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42371304 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Autism research has primarily emphasized difficulties with negative affect, while positive emotions remain underexplored despite its central role in well-being and social functioning. This scoping review synthes...
PURPOSE: Autism research has primarily emphasized difficulties with negative affect, while positive emotions remain underexplored despite its central role in well-being and social functioning. This scoping review synthesizes existing evidence on positive emotions and affect in autism, focusing on the recognition, experience, and regulation of positive emotions as well as relevant interventions. METHOD: Using the Arksey & O'Malley (2005) framework and PRISMA-ScR (Peters et al., 2020; Tricco et al., 2018), we included 29 studies from 1,119 database records and added 43 manually identified papers (72 in all). RESULTS: Results for positive emotions in autism are variable relative to their neurotypical peers. However, they do not point to overall group differences; instead, results suggest that potential difficulties depend on the specific emotion, the stage of emotional processing, perceptual approaches, cognitive and social capacities, and contextual factors. CONCLUSION: These findings call for future studies to sample a wider range of positive emotions and processes as well as using tasks and measures that account for the individual in a more ecological context. Deepening our understanding of positive emotional processes in autism may reveal potential psychological strengths as well as inform tailored interventions.
Perspectives of Autistic People, Parents, and Healthcare Professionals on Communication in Healthcare Settings and Related Needs in Georgia: A Qualitative Study.
Kalandadze T, Gabunia M, Javakhishvili N … +2 more , Kobuladze T, Tchintcharauli T
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42371303 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Autistic people often experience mental and physical health challenges that require high-quality healthcare. However, several barriers hinder their access to healthcare, including difficulties communicating in h...
PURPOSE: Autistic people often experience mental and physical health challenges that require high-quality healthcare. However, several barriers hinder their access to healthcare, including difficulties communicating in healthcare settings. Communication-related barriers might differ between countries but have been mainly investigated in high income countries. Less is, therefore, known about the barriers to access to healthcare in middle-income countries such as Georgia. METHODS: In this study, we investigated challenges in communication between autistic people, parents and non-autistic healthcare professionals for the first time in Georgia. We report qualitative data from three focus groups comprising seven autistic participants (aged 13-29 years), two healthcare specialists (a child psychiatrist and a paediatrician), and four mothers. RESULTS: The findings revealed that autistic people and parents of autistic individuals often experience communication breakdowns in healthcare settings and beyond. Limited knowledge of autism among professionals, as well as the lack of services and support remain a big problem, affecting the lives of autistic people. CONCLUSION: These findings have implications for healthcare practice and future research and policy in Georgia and other countries with similar socio-political characteristics.
Pilot Study: Sibling Collaborative Learning of Daily Living Skills Using Video Modeling With Korean American Autistic Adolescents.
Kang VY, Vyas T, Yakubova G … +3 more , Awasi SI, Mann M, Joo S
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42371302 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: As a pilot study, we explored how Korean immigrant youths could collaborate with their autistic siblings to support the learning of daily living skills using video-based instruction. The following research quest...
PURPOSE: As a pilot study, we explored how Korean immigrant youths could collaborate with their autistic siblings to support the learning of daily living skills using video-based instruction. The following research questions were addressed: (a) Is there a functional relation, or positive effect, between the training and siblings' fidelity of implementation? (b) Is there a functional relation between the intervention and the autistic youths' completion of self-selected daily living skills? (c) How do autistic youths and their siblings evaluate the social validity of the program? METHODS: We used a nonconcurrent multiple probe single-case experimental design across three autistic youth-sibling dyads. The autistic youths selected a daily living skill they desire to learn. Siblings created task analyses and video clips for the intervention. After training, siblings implemented video-based instruction embedded with least to most prompts and reinforcement. RESULTS: Siblings' fidelity of video-based instruction increased after training. The autistic youths' percentage of task completion increased upon the implementation of intervention. All three sibling dyads reported high levels of social validity with regard to their preference of the instruction, feasibility, and sustainability. CONCLUSION: The findings of this pilot study suggest that culturally adapted, family-engaged, video-based training and intervention that are informed, planned, and implemented collaboratively with autistic youths and family members can be beneficial in promoting the youths' daily living skills acquisition while ensuring socially valid approaches.
Predicting 18-month M-CHAT-R/F With PediaTracv3.0 Motor and Social/Communication/Cognition Domains.
Krebs RM, Staples AD, Bo J … +7 more , Raghunathan T, Berglund P, Warschausky S, Huth-Bocks A, Gerry Taylor H, Lukomski A, Lajiness-O'Neill R
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42371301 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: This study examined whether caregiver-reported indices of motor and social/communication/cognition in infancy could predict the likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at 18 months, as measured by the Modif...
PURPOSE: This study examined whether caregiver-reported indices of motor and social/communication/cognition in infancy could predict the likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at 18 months, as measured by the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F). METHODS: Participants included 415 caregiver-infant dyads (45% female; 170 preterm) from the longitudinal PediaTrac™ v3.0 study that tracked infant and toddler development from birth to 18 months. Cross-sectional latent traits of motor (MOT) and social/communication/cognition (SCG) ability at 9 and 12 months and longitudinal trajectory parameters from birth to 12 months served as predictor variables of later ASD likelihood. Hierarchical multiple regression models examined whether cross-sectional abilities or longitudinal trajectories better predicted M-CHAT-R/F scores at 18 months, controlling for preterm status × male sex, maternal education, maternal age, and Area Deprivation Index. RESULTS: Longitudinal trajectories accounted for greater variance in M-CHAT-R/F scores than cross-sectional measures. Lower developmental slopes in MOT and SCG predicted higher autism likelihood scores at 18 months, and higher neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage was the most robust predictor of later ASD likelihood (among all variables in this study). CONCLUSION: Findings support PediaTrac's validity as a caregiver-reported measure for identifying early developmental patterns linked to later autism likelihood. Integrating developmental trajectories with socioeconomic contextual factors would improve early detection and guide intervention development.
How Autism and Sex Influence Perspective-Taking in Pragmatic Inferences.
Porrini AT, Goulston J, Perovic A … +1 more , Pouscoulous N
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42364074 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Despite difficulties with pragmatic inferences which require perspective-taking, autistic individuals often perform similarly to non-autistic peers on scalar implicatures tasks. Prior studies often used artifici...
PURPOSE: Despite difficulties with pragmatic inferences which require perspective-taking, autistic individuals often perform similarly to non-autistic peers on scalar implicatures tasks. Prior studies often used artificial tasks lacking a rich communicative context, or clear interlocutor, potentially misrepresenting autistic performance. They have also underrepresented females, who may outperform males on pragmatic measures. This study aims to address both limitations. METHODS: 52 autistic and 52 non-autistic adults (balanced for sex) completed an implicature priming task with both lexical (e.g. interpreting "John ate some of the cookies" as "some but not all") and ad-hoc scalar implicatures (e.g., "the bowl with an apple" meaning "only an apple" when another bowl contains an apple and an orange). This task was an online card-selection game with clues either provided by a cooperative and knowledgeable "interlocutor" or simply appearing on the screen. RESULTS: Reliable priming effects occurred across groups and implicature types, showing that autistic adults, like non-autistic adults, flexibly interpret scalar terms in context. Speaker presence interacted with sex: while autistic males made fewer implicatures in the speaker-present condition, autistic females, like non-autistic participants, made more implicatures; they nonetheless showed longer reaction times. CONCLUSION: Communicative context and sex both shape pragmatic performance in autism. Autistic females may reach similar interpretations to non-autistic people by using effortful compensatory strategies, whereas autistic males may be more affected by the extra demands of reasoning about a speaker's mental states and intentions. The findings underscore the value of realistic, inclusive designs in pragmatic research and looking at the sexes separately.
Who Shapes National Autism Guidance? A Cross-National Comparison of Autism Guideline Development, Representation, and Implementation.
Hwang CP, Øien RA, Volkmar FR
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42362933 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: National autism guidance increasingly shapes diagnostic practices and service pathways, yet comparative research has focused primarily on clinical content and methodological quality rather than the governance st...
PURPOSE: National autism guidance increasingly shapes diagnostic practices and service pathways, yet comparative research has focused primarily on clinical content and methodological quality rather than the governance structures through which guidance is produced. We argue that differences in autism guidance are influenced not only by clinical recommendations but also by governance structure, lived-experience participation, and implementation architecture. This study examines how autism guidance is commissioned, who participates in development, and how guideline processes are linked to implementation across six countries: Australia, England, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, and the United States. METHODS: Using qualitative comparative document analysis, publicly available guideline documents and associated methodological materials were examined to assess each country's guideline authority, document function and scope, procedural transparency, lived-experience participation, implementation linkages, and relationship to broader national autism strategy. Participation was categorized along a spectrum from consultation to representation to co-production. RESULTS: The analysis reveals substantial cross-national variation in how authority, participation, and implementation are structured within national autism guidance systems. Countries with centralized guideline authorities documented the most formalized mechanisms for incorporating lived-experience perspectives, while distributed or consultation-based models afforded less formal influence. Procedural transparency was generally high where centralized bodies existed but variable in distributed systems. Implementation linkages ranged from formal quality standards, indicators, and national strategy alignment to informal regional adoption. CONCLUSION: These governance differences are not fully captured by existing appraisal tools such as AGREE II. The findings provide a descriptive foundation for future research examining how governance arrangements influence autism guidance implementation, legitimacy, and impact.
Association Between Autism Severity, Parental Stress, and Parenting Styles in Indian Families of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Ravichandran I, Rethinem Thiruvengadam K, Ramadass A
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42360621 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face persistent emotional, psychological, and social challenges. Cultural stigma and limited resources in India may add to this burden. This study examined...
PURPOSE: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face persistent emotional, psychological, and social challenges. Cultural stigma and limited resources in India may add to this burden. This study examined the association between parental stress, parenting styles, and ASD severity in Indian families. METHODS: We recruited 63 parents of children aged 3-12 years with a clinically confirmed diagnosis of ASD (DSM-5 criteria) between November 2023 and January 2024 through Autism Community Support Groups. Of these, 60 were included in the final analysis after excluding three cases with missing data. Data were collected using a socio-demographic proforma, the Parental Stress Scale, and the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire-Short Version. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics version 23.0. Given violations of the normality assumption, non-parametric analyses were employed: the Kruskal-Wallis H test with Mann-Whitney U pairwise comparisons assessed differences in parental stress across severity levels, and Spearman's rank-order correlation examined associations between stress and parenting styles. RESULTS: Parental stress differed significantly across ASD severity levels, H (2) = 21.397, p < .001. Parents of children with mild ASD reported the lowest stress (M = 57.24, SD = 4.72), followed by moderate ASD (M = 62.73, SD = 5.46) and severe ASD (M = 68.00, SD = 4.58). Pairwise comparisons indicated that parents of children with mild ASD reported significantly lower stress than those with moderate ASD (U = 129.00, p = .002) and severe ASD (U = 10.00, p < .001). Parental stress was positively correlated with authoritarian parenting style (r = .314, p = .014), while no significant associations were found with authoritative or permissive styles. CONCLUSIONS: ASD severity is significantly associated with higher parental stress among Indian families. Parental stress was positively associated with an authoritarian parenting style. These findings highlight the need for culturally responsive, family-centered interventions that address both child symptom severity and parental well-being.
Enhancing Service Providers' Fidelity of Functional Behavior Assessment Implementation for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Saudi Arabia.
Alanazi HH
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42360620 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) plays a crucial role in reducing challenging behaviors among individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). To date, no empirical studies have investigated the effectivene...
PURPOSE: Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) plays a crucial role in reducing challenging behaviors among individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). To date, no empirical studies have investigated the effectiveness of structured FBA training programs on service providers' fidelity of FBA implementation within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) context. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the extent to which a structured, competency-based training program enhances service providers fidelity in implementing both indirect and direct FBA procedures. METHODS: A multiple-baseline single-case experimental design was utilized across six female service providers employed at an autism center and received a competency-based training based on Behavioral Skills Training (BST). The variables were measured by employing integrity checklists and calculated as the percentage of correctly administered procedural steps. Data were analyzed through Tau-U size calculations and visual analysis. RESULTS: During baseline, all participants demonstrated low levels of performance. Following the intervention, all participants showed a substantial improvement in implementing both indirect and direct FBA procedures, achieved and maintained the mastery criterion of at least 90% accuracy. Visual analysis showed strong functional relations between the training and improved fidelity. In addition, the participants' demographic characteristics, such as educational background and years of experience were interlinked with their rate of skill acquisition. CONCLUSION: A structured, culturally adapted training program based on BST is significantly enhancing the service providers fidelity of FBA implementation for children with autism in KSA. These findings strongly support the role of structured training in creating local capacity for evidence-based practices and high-fidelity.
Exploring the Action-Perception Loop in Children Born Very Preterm: Associations Between Biological Motion Perception, Motor Coordination, and Behavioral Outcomes.
Johansson M, Montgomery C, Kaul YF … +2 more , Hellström-Westas L, Kochukhova O
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42360619 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Children born very preterm (VPT < 32 weeks' gestation) are at elevated risk for neurodevelopmental difficulties, including social functioning, motor coordination, and perceptual processing, domains that also sho...
PURPOSE: Children born very preterm (VPT < 32 weeks' gestation) are at elevated risk for neurodevelopmental difficulties, including social functioning, motor coordination, and perceptual processing, domains that also show overlap with autism-related profiles. Biological motion (BM) perception, which supports the extraction of social information from movement, may represent one important pathway through which early motor and perceptual functioning relate to later socio-emotional development. METHODS: We examined BM perception, motor coordination, and behavioral outcome in 64 VPT and 31 full-term (FT) (mean age = 12 years). BM perception was measured via eye-tracking, recording time to detect point-light walkers under low- and high-noise conditions. Motor skills were evaluated with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd Edition, and behavioral outcome with the Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS: Children born VPT showed lower BM perception, poorer motor coordination, and more internalizing and social difficulties than FT peers. In the VPT group, poorer motor coordination was linked to reduced social competence and more internalizing symptoms, while lower BM perception was associated specifically with internalizing symptoms. Combined deficits were tied to the highest levels of anxiety and social withdrawal. BM perception was selectively related to gross motor skills, consistent with shared action-perception systems. No such associations appeared in the FT group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the interplay between perceptual and motor functioning and socio-emotional outcomes in children born VPT children. The observed associations point to potential developmental mechanisms that may increase vulnerability to social and emotional difficulties, offering insights relevant to autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions.
Truly Sorry? Effects of Diagnostic Information on an Autistic Defendant's Perceived Remorse, Honesty, and Guilt.
Bird KA, Salekin KL
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42360618 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Nonverbal behaviors perceived as deception or lack of remorse share significant overlap with autism characteristics, possibly contributing to disproportionately negative outcomes in the criminal justice system....
PURPOSE: Nonverbal behaviors perceived as deception or lack of remorse share significant overlap with autism characteristics, possibly contributing to disproportionately negative outcomes in the criminal justice system. Disclosing an autism diagnosis during trial may help reduce bias and negative outcomes, however, research remains scarce. This study examined juror perceptions of autistic defendants using videotaped trial testimony, extending prior work. METHODS: Participants (n = 163) viewed videotaped testimony of an autistic defendant before being randomly assigned to one of three disclosure conditions (none, diagnosis only, or diagnosis and expert testimony). Participants rated the defendant's honesty, remorse, blame, and guilt and completed legal authoritarianism, autism attitudes, and autism exposure measures. RESULTS: In contrast to previous findings, significant differences were not found between diagnostic disclosure type and ratings of defendant honesty, remorse, blame, or guilt when controlling for autism attitudes, autism exposure, and legal authoritarianism. Notably, floor and ceiling effects limit interpretation of these null findings, which may reflect facts of the case rather than an absence of disclosure effects. Exploratory analyses revealed participants with more prior exposure to autistic individuals and more positive autism attitudes consistently rated the defendant as more honest, less blameworthy, and less guilty, and disclosure type occasionally moderated these relationships. CONCLUSION: Although methodological constraints limit conclusions regarding diagnostic disclosure effects, pre-existing attitudes toward autism consistently predicted juror perceptions, and expert testimony showed promise for reducing bias. These findings highlight the importance of informed disclosure strategies for legal practitioners and the need for further research on reducing bias for autistic defendants.
Is Workplace Inclusion a Distinct Research Domain? A Comparative Bibliometric Study of Autism and Employment Literature.
Larsen K, Mishra S
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42340635 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Workplace inclusion has gained prominence in autism-employment research, but it remains unclear whether it represents an extension of outcome-focused scholarship or a structurally distinct subdomain. We examined...
PURPOSE: Workplace inclusion has gained prominence in autism-employment research, but it remains unclear whether it represents an extension of outcome-focused scholarship or a structurally distinct subdomain. We examined whether the two traditions can be consistently distinguished across bibliometric dimensions, and whether inclusion-oriented growth exceeds overall expansion of autism research output. METHODS: A comparative bibliometric study used two curated corpora retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science (February 23, 2026): inclusion-oriented (INCL; n = 514) and outcome-oriented (OUT; n = 310), totaling 824 unique publications after deduplication. Structural differentiation was examined using document-level bibliographic coupling with Louvain community detection, complemented by modularity and cluster-corpus association tests. Author, journal, and keyword overlap were quantified using Jaccard indices. Annual counts were normalized against total ASD publication output in Scopus. RESULTS: The coupling network yielded 22 clusters (Q = 0.426). Cluster membership was strongly associated with corpus affiliation, χ²(21) = 105.87, p < .001, Cramér's V = 0.556. Author overlap was low (J = 0.057), journal overlap modest (J = 0.179), and keyword overlap moderate (J = 0.26). The inclusion-oriented share of ASD output grew approximately 4.1-fold from 2011 to 2015 to 2021-2025, against 1.6-fold for outcome-oriented research and 2.4-fold for the broader field. CONCLUSION: Multiple bibliometric indicators consistently differentiate outcome-oriented and inclusion-oriented corpora, indicating distinct but conceptually adjacent strands of scholarship. Inclusion-oriented research has grown at a rate substantially exceeding overall field expansion. Findings provide hypothesis-generating evidence consistent with disciplinary diversification and highlight the need for integrative frameworks linking vocational rehabilitation and organizational inclusion research.
Effects of Physical Exercise on Motor Skills in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Lei Z, Jia L, Tan Q … +6 more , Xie T, Teo EW, Duyan M, Ilkim M, Özoğlu F, Chang J
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42340634 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: To examine the impact of physical exercise on motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). METHODS: This study followed PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024600538). Six databases (Embase, Engi...
PURPOSE: To examine the impact of physical exercise on motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). METHODS: This study followed PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024600538). Six databases (Embase, Engineering Village, OVID, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched through October 30, 2025. INCLUSION CRITERIA: children ≤ 12 years with ASD; randomized controlled trials (RCTs); physical exercise interventions; motor skills outcomes measured via standardized instruments (BOT-2, TGMD-2, PDMS-2, ADS-3, MABC). Two independent reviewers performed study selection and data extraction. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane ROB 2.0; evidence quality via GRADE. Statistical analysis used R 4.4.3, calculating standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Random-effects models were applied when I² ≥ 50%. RESULTS: Ten RCTs (256 children; mean age 6.91 ± 2.51 years) were included. Physical exercise significantly improved total motor skills (SMD = 1.58, 95%CI: 1.15-2.00, p < 0.0000), locomotion (SMD = 1.34, 95%CI: 0.98-1.70, p < 0.00001), object control (SMD = 1.37, 95%CI: 1.02-1.72, p < 0.00001), and balance (SMD = 1.73, 95%CI: 0.82-2.65, p = 0.0002). Publication bias was detected for total motor skills and balance. Meta-regression showed that intervention frequency positively correlated with balance improvement (p = 0.022), while duration negatively correlated (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Physical exercise significantly improves motor skills in children with ASD. Meta-regression indicates that frequency is a positive moderator for balance gains, but prolonged duration shows diminishing returns due to adaptation plateaus. Age and session length did not affect the protocol, so it remained flexible.
The Links Between Parents' Self-Stigma, Parental Burnout, Parental Competence, and Socio-Emotional Adjustment Among Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Aktu Y, Toğuk S, Vural B
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42340633 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: The experience of parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often entails unique psychological challenges. Although research on parental stress and adjustment has expanded considerably, the mechanism...
PURPOSE: The experience of parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often entails unique psychological challenges. Although research on parental stress and adjustment has expanded considerably, the mechanisms through which parents' self-stigma (PSS) influences parental burnout, perceived competence, and socio-emotional adjustment remain insufficiently theorized. The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal links among PSS, parental burnout, parental competence, and socio-emotional adjustment among parents of children with ASD. METHODS: The study employed a cross-lagged panel design with two waves of longitudinal research conducted at six-month intervals. The sample consisted of 182 parents (54.9% female) with a mean age of 40.59 years (Standard deviation = 7.12). Correlational analyses were conducted to examine associations among PSS, parental burnout, parental competence, and socio-emotional adjustment variables, while mediation analyses were performed using structural equation modelling. RESULTS: The results indicated that higher levels of PSS significantly increased parental burnout, which in turn reduced parental competence. Lower parental competence was subsequently associated with poorer socio-emotional adjustment. CONCLUSION: These results provide important insights for mental health professionals and intervention programs, highlighting the need to address self-stigma and burnout to foster parental competence and socio-emotional well-being in families of children with ASD.
Children Classified as Medium-Risk by the M-CHAT-R at Age Two Years Have an Increased Likelihood of Subtle but Widespread Developmental Challenges at Preschool Entry: Results From the French National Birth Cohort ELFE.
Charles MA, Germany L, Tafflet M … +4 more , Arneton M, Augé P, Peyre H, Pierrat V
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42340632 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers - Revised (M-CHAT-R) is widely used for screening children at age 2 for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but it also identifies children at risk for broader devel...
BACKGROUND: The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers - Revised (M-CHAT-R) is widely used for screening children at age 2 for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but it also identifies children at risk for broader developmental challenges. We aimed to examine whether M-CHAT-R risk status at age 2 is associated with cognitive, behavioral, adaptive, and school-related outcomes at ages 3 to 4. METHODS: We used data from the French national birth Cohort ELFE, including children assessed with the M-CHAT-R at age 2. Children were classified as low or medium risk. Outcomes at ages 3-4 included general cognitive development (Child Development Inventory), non-verbal reasoning (Picture Similarities test), family and daily activities, school engagement and performance, attention regulation (teacher-rated ADHD symptoms), specific neurodevelopmental care and school-based assistance. Multivariate analyses used modified Poisson regression for binary outcomes and linear regression for continuous outcomes, adjusted for sociodemographic, child-related, and school-related factors. FINDINGS: 9,223 children were classified as low-risk and 1,248 children as medium-risk. Medium-risk children were more often boys and from socioeconomically disadvantaged families. At 3.5 years, medium-risk children had increased likelihood of developmental delay (16.6% vs. 6.1%, RR 2.2 after adjustment) and lower cognitive and language scores (up to -0.4 SD). Despite these differences, most children attended school, and their school life was similar to that of low-risk peers. INTERPRETATION: Children classified as medium-risk by the M-CHAT-R at age 2 have an increased likelihood of subtle but widespread developmental challenges at school entry. Strategies to improve access to neurodevelopmental care and school support could enhance outcomes for this group.
Brief Report: Prevalence and Trends of Developmental Disabilities Among US Children and Adolescents Aged 3 to 17 Years From 2016 to 2024.
Long Q, Xu C, Yang Y … +4 more , Wang Y, Yan X, Lu J, Yang W
J Autism Dev Disord · 2026 Jun · PMID 42340631 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence and trends of developmental disabilities among U.S. children and adolescents aged 3-17 years from 2016 to 2024. METHODS: Using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS, 2021-...
PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence and trends of developmental disabilities among U.S. children and adolescents aged 3-17 years from 2016 to 2024. METHODS: Using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS, 2021-2024) and the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH, 2016-2023). Only NHIS contributed 2024 data, with NSCH through 2023. We calculated the weighted prevalence with 95% confidence intervals for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disability, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and other developmental delays and examined trends from 2016 to 2024. RESULTS: Prevalence increased significantly for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disability, and autism spectrum disorder but remained stable for intellectual disability and other developmental delays. Age-specific analyses revealed distinct distributions: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disability were most common in school-age children, whereas autism spectrum disorder was higher among preschool-aged children compared with older groups. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of developmental disabilities among U.S. children has risen substantially. This persistent upward trend underscores a growing public health challenge, necessitating enhanced early identification, service delivery, and research into the multifactorial drivers behind these increases.
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