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01-04-2015 | Original Contribution

Measuring quantitative autism traits in families: informant effect or intergenerational transmission?

Authors: Wouter De la Marche, Ilse Noens, Sofie Kuppens, Jantine L. Spilt, Bart Boets, Jean Steyaert

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 4/2015

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have a high degree of heritability, but there is still much debate about specific causal genes and pathways. To gain insight into patterns of transmission, research has focused on the relatedness of quantitative autism traits (QAT) between family members, mostly using questionnaires. Yet, different kinds of bias may influence research results. In this paper, we focus on possible informant effects and, taking these into account, on possible intergenerational transmission of QAT. This study used multiple informant data retrieved via the Social Responsiveness Scale from 170 families with at least one member with ASD. Using intraclass correlations (ICCs) and mixed model analyses, we investigated inter-informant agreement and differences between parent and teacher reports on children and between self- and other-reports on adults. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), we investigated the relatedness of QAT between family members in ASD families. Parent–teacher agreement about social responsiveness was poor, especially for children with ASD, though agreement between parents was moderate to strong for affected and unaffected children. Agreement between self- and other-report in adult men was good, but only moderate in women. Agreement did not differ between adults with and without ASD. While accounting for informant effects, our SEM results corroborated the assortative mating theory and the intergenerational transmission of QAT from both fathers and mothers to their offspring.

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Title: Measuring quantitative autism traits in families: informant effect or intergenerational transmission?
Authors: Wouter De la Marche
Ilse Noens
Sofie Kuppens
Jantine L. Spilt
Bart Boets
Jean Steyaert
Publication date: 01-04-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 4/2015
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-014-0586-z

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