What Drives Parental Concerns about their 18-Month-Olds at Familial Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Abstract

Parent-reported concerns can be a first step toward further screening and intervention for children at risk for ASD. However, little is known about how parental well-being may contribute to parental concerns, especially in families who already have one child with ASD. This study included 54 parents and their 18-month-old high-risk toddlers to examine the extent to which parents’ well-being and children’s expressive language and social communication contribute to concerns about their toddlers. Results revealed that parental concerns were predicted by both their own well-being and their toddler’s expressive language. These results suggest that elicitation of parental concerns may provide important information about both toddlers and parents, and highlight the importance of considering parental well-being in developing support plans for families.