Short Report: An Examination of Children's Autism Traits and Their Association With Family Experience

The present study examined how the frequency and impact of autism traits were associated with parent-reported family experience, with differential consideration of parental experience and overall family life. Prior research has found an association between autism traits and family functioning; however, less is known about how the impact and frequency of these traits influence family experience. We analyzed data from families of 206 young autistic children (144 boys and 62 girls), aged 2-7, using the Autism Impact Measure (AIM) and the Autism Family Experience Questionnaire (AFEQ). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that the impact of autistic traits was significantly associated with parent experience scores and that the frequency of autistic traits was significantly associated with family life scores in the first-year post-diagnosis. Neither child age nor gender was significantly associated with parent experience or family life. This study highlights the importance of tailoring post-diagnosis family supports to the child's specific features and calls attention to areas for future investigation on this topic, including the exploration of longitudinal trends or demographic factors that may affect parent experience and family life.