Data_Sheet_1_Empathy, Theory of Mind, and Prosocial Behaviors in Autistic Children.pdf

Background:Previous research has suggested that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display fewer prosocial behaviors, and the role of empathy or Theory of Mind (ToM) in prosocial behaviors of autistic children remains unclear.MethodsData were obtained from an ongoing longitudinal study in Guangzhou, China. A total of 96 autistic children and 167 typically developing (TD) children were enrolled. Prosocial behaviors were assessed using a subscale of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and Dictator Game (DG) paradigm with stickers as incentives. Empathic traits and ToM ability were measured using the children's Empathy Quotient and the Chinese version of ToM toolkit. Generalized linear models were used to assess the differences of prosocial behaviors and empathic traits, ToM ability between the two groups and the associations between empathic traits, ToM ability and prosocial behaviors in autistic children.ResultsCompared with TD children, autistic children exhibited worse ToM ability and performed less pro-socially in the DG paradigm, while there were no differences regarding empathic traits. In autistic children, empathic traits especially affective empathy, were positively associated with parent-reported prosocial behaviors [β = 0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.07–0.27; β = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.33–0.60]. ToM ability was associated with DG paradigm (β = 1.03, 95%CI: 0.16–1.89).ConclusionAutistic children showed less pro-sociality and ToM ability than TD children. In autistic children, empathic trait was associated with parent-reported prosocial behaviors while their ToM ability was associated with prosocial behaviors in experimental condition. Our findings indicated that better ToM ability and empathic trait might promote prosocial behaviors in autistic children.

背景：既往研究表明，患有自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的儿童表现出较少的亲社会行为，而同理心或心智理论（ToM）在自闭儿童亲社会行为中的作用尚不明确。方法：数据来源于我国广州正在进行的一项纵向研究。共纳入96名自闭症儿童和167名正常发育（TD）儿童。采用《困难和能力问卷》的子量表和贴纸激励的独裁者游戏（DG）范式评估亲社会行为。使用儿童同理心指数和中国版心智理论工具包测量同理心特质和心智理论能力。采用广义线性模型评估两组儿童在亲社会行为、同理心特质和心智理论能力之间的差异，以及自闭儿童中同理心特质、心智理论能力与亲社会行为之间的关系。结果：与TD儿童相比，自闭儿童在DG范式中的心智理论能力较差，亲社会行为表现较少，而在同理心特质方面没有差异。在自闭儿童中，同理心特质，尤其是情感同理心，与父母报告的亲社会行为呈正相关[β = 0.17，95%置信区间（CI）：0.07–0.27；β = 0.47，95%CI：0.33–0.60]。心智理论能力与DG范式相关（β = 1.03，95%CI：0.16–1.89）。结论：自闭儿童在亲社会性和心智理论能力方面均低于TD儿童。在自闭儿童中，同理心特质与父母报告的亲社会行为相关，而他们的心智理论能力与实验条件下的亲社会行为相关。我们的研究结果指出，更好的心智理论能力和同理心特质可能有助于促进自闭儿童的亲社会行为。