Theory of mind and related factors in parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Objective: Impairments constituting the basis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are explained in terms of theory-of-mind (ToM). Our study aimed to investigate psychiatric disorders and sociodemographic characteristics potentially associated with ToM in the parents of children with ASD in the context of gender variation. Method: The study involved 84 families with a child diagnosed with ASD (mother, father and child with ASD - 252 participants). The Reading the Mind in the Eye Test (RMET) was applied to evaluate parental ToM. Parents were also assessed using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was applied to assess severity of autism in children. The data obtained were subjected to statistical comparisons. Results: No statistically significant difference was determined between parents' RMET, BAI, or TAS scores. Mothers' BDI scores were significantly higher than those of fathers (p=0.009). Higher RMET scores were determined in pa-rents of children with mild ASD and no accompanying disease. Significant negative correlation was determined between children's CARS scores and parental RMET scores (r=-0.528 p=<0.0001/r=0.473 p=<0.0001). Negative correlation was determined between parental TAS and RMET scores (r=-0.303 p=0.005/r=-0.327 p=0.002). Discussion: ToM disturbance in parents increased with severity of ASD in children, although no gender diffe-rence was determined. Further ToM studies involving parents of children with severe ASD are needed.