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. 2017 Jan;21(1):92-99.
doi: 10.1177/1362361315627792. Epub 2016 Mar 10.

Race, disability, and grade: Social relationships in children with autism spectrum disorders

Gazi F Azad  1 , Jill Locke  2 , Connie Kasari  3 , David S Mandell  4
Affiliations

Race, disability, and grade: Social relationships in children with autism spectrum disorders

Gazi F Azad et al. Autism. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Race is associated with social relationships among typically developing children; however, studies rarely examine the impact of race on social outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder. This study examined how race (African American, Latino, Asian, or White) in conjunction with disability status (autism spectrum disorders or typically developing) and grade (grades K-2 or 3-5) affects friendships and social networks. The sample comprises 85 children with autism spectrum disorders and 85 typically developing controls matched on race, gender, age/grade, and classroom (wherever possible). Race, disability, and grade each had an independent effect on friendship nominations, and there was an interaction among the three variables. Specifically, children with autism spectrum disorders who were African American or Latino in the upper elementary grades received fewer friendship nominations than typically developing White children in the lower elementary grades. Only the presence of autism spectrum disorders was associated with social network centrality. Our results also suggested that Latino children with autism spectrum disorders in the upper elementary grades were at the highest risk of social isolation. Implications for re-conceptualizing social skills interventions are discussed.

Keywords: autism; autism spectrum disorders; friendship; race; social network; social relationships.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Group differences in the number of friendship nominations. TD: typical development; ASD: autism spectrum disorder. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Group differences in social network centrality. TD: typical development; ASD: autism spectrum disorder. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; and ***p < 0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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