Interactions between autistics and healthy children and their parents in emotional availability: a comparative study

Abstract

In this study, we assessed the interactions of mothers and fathers with their children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in terms of emotional availability (EA) and compared them with the interactions of healthy controls. Children, aged 13–60 months and applied to the Infant Mental Health Unit between January 2019 and March 2021 and their parents without any clinical diagnosis, were included. The EA levels of mothers and fathers of the autistic group, which included 30 boys and 13 girls, and those of the control group, which included 10 boys and 10 girls, were compared. According to the results obtained, it was determined that the EA levels of mothers and fathers of healthy controls were not different; however, the mothers were more sensitive and better in structuring the content of play compared with the fathers in the ASD group. It was noted that the fathers of children with ASD were more hostile than the mothers. EA should be taken as a criterion to determine the intensity and content of treatment, particularly in ASD. Additionally, increased awareness of fathers in EA may provide better results in the intervention process.

Keywords

• autism
• ASD
• neurodevelopmental disorders
• parenting
• emotional availability