1 University of California, Riverside, USA.
2 University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA.
Autism. 2019 Aug;23(6):1554-1562. doi: 10.1177/1362361318818327. Epub 2019 Jan 7.
In an evaluation of Anglo and Latina mothers and their children at risk of autism, this study compared mother-reported child behavioral concerns to staff-observed symptoms of autism. Within Latina mothers, the impact of primary language (English/Spanish), mothers' education, and child age on ratings of developmental concerns was examined. Participants were 218 mothers (Anglo = 85; Latina = 133) of children referred to a no-cost autism screening clinic. Mothers reported on behavioral concerns, autism symptomology, and services received; children were administered the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule by certified staff. Results revealed that Anglo and Latino children did not differ by autism symptoms or classification. However, Anglo mothers reported significantly more concerns than Latina mothers. Within the Latina group, analyses revealed significant interaction effects of language and child age; Spanish-speaking mothers of preschoolers endorsed fewer concerns, while Spanish-speaking mothers of school-aged children endorsed more concerns. Despite these reports, Anglo children with a classification of autism spectrum disorder were receiving significantly more services than Latino children with autism spectrum disorder, suggesting early beginnings of a service divide as well as the need for improved parent education on child development and advocacy for Latino families.
在一项针对有自闭症风险的英裔和拉丁裔母亲及其子女的评估中，本研究比较了母亲报告的儿童行为问题与工作人员观察到的自闭症症状。在拉丁裔母亲中，考察了主要语言（英语/西班牙语）、母亲教育程度和儿童年龄对发育问题评估的影响。参与者为 218 名被转介到免费自闭症筛查诊所的母亲（英裔=85；拉丁裔=133）。母亲报告了行为问题、自闭症症状和所接受的服务；儿童由认证工作人员进行自闭症诊断观察量表测试。结果表明，英裔和拉丁裔儿童在自闭症症状或分类方面没有差异。然而，英裔母亲报告的问题明显多于拉丁裔母亲。在拉丁裔群体中，分析显示语言和儿童年龄存在显著的交互作用；讲西班牙语的学龄前儿童母亲的问题较少，而讲西班牙语的学龄儿童母亲的问题较多。尽管有这些报告，被诊断为自闭症谱系障碍的英裔儿童接受的服务明显多于被诊断为自闭症谱系障碍的拉丁裔儿童，这表明服务鸿沟的早期出现，以及需要加强对儿童发展的父母教育，并为拉丁裔家庭提供支持。
