Analysis of a Four-Factor Model of Autism Symptoms in Children Aged 3–6 Years Old

176

Abstract

The work is devoted to the empirical analysis of age shifts within the framework of the factor model of autism for preschool children. In the 2020–2022 studies, we obtained a factor model of autism and identified 4 vectors of autism — typical subtypes of ASD in 3–4 years old children. Among them are: 1) difficulties in establishing emotional contact, expressing one's emotions and decoding other people's emotions in the context of social interaction; 2) sensory disintegration; 3) impairments in verbal and nonverbal communication and social skills; 4) hyperactivity, including excessive movements, motor disinhibition and restless behavior. It should be emphasized that the first three vectors correspond to the core symptoms of ASD in accordance with the DSM-5. While the hyperactivity factor goes beyond the main symptoms of ASD. In this paper, a comparative analysis of the severity and stability of symptoms was carried out within the framework of a 4-factor model of autism for 3–4 and 5–6-year-old children with autism. Sensory and communication impairments have been found to decrease with age, however, emotional impairments and hyperactivity remain at a high level. The theoretical foundations of emotional disorders and hyperactivity in children with ASD are analyzed in detail. Brief practical recommendations are presented for effective early intervention in order to improve the potential trajectory of development of preschool children with ASD.

General Information

Keywords: autism, vectors of autism, psychological correction, behavioral correction

Journal rubric: Empirical Research

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/cpse.2023120403

Funding. The study was supported by The Russian Science Foundation (RNF) № 23-18-00155 «Study of predictive indicators of autism spectrum disorders in preschool children».

Received: 02.10.2023

Accepted:

For citation: Nasledov A.D., Tkacheva L.O., Zashchirinskaia O.V., Miroshnikov S.A. Analysis of a Four-Factor Model of Autism Symptoms in Children Aged 3–6 Years Old [Elektronnyi resurs]. Klinicheskaia i spetsial'naia psikhologiia = Clinical Psychology and Special Education, 2023. Vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 47–72. DOI: 10.17759/cpse.2023120403. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

A. D. Nasledov, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Pedagogy and Pedagogical Psychology, Saint-Petersburg State University, St.Petersburg, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4687-3184, e-mail: andrey.nasledov@gmail.com

Lubov O. Tkacheva, Doctor of Psychology, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Pedagogy and Pedagogical Psychology, Saint-Petersburg State University, St.Petersburg, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9822-1914, e-mail: l.tkacheva@spbu.ru

Oksana V. Zashchirinskaia, Doctor of Psychology, Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Educational Psychology of the Faculty of Psychology, Saint-Petersburg State University, St.Petersburg, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2666-3529, e-mail: zaoks@mail.ru

Sergey A. Miroshnikov, PhD in Psychology, Head of the Laboratory of psychological and pedagogical diagnostics, LLC “Longitude”, St.Petersburg, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7079-0624, e-mail: sergeyamir@gmail.com

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