Academic Journal
Occurrence of mental health challenges and their association with autistic traits, cognitive level and adaptive functioning in autistic preschool children.
| Title: | Occurrence of mental health challenges and their association with autistic traits, cognitive level and adaptive functioning in autistic preschool children. |
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| Authors: | Wu, Weng Tong, John, James Rufus, Mendoza Diaz, Antonio, Eapen, Valsamma |
| Source: | BJPsych Open; Mar2026, Vol. 12 Issue 2, p1-8, 8p |
| Subject Terms: | Autism, Cognitive ability, Life skills, Autism spectrum disorders, Preschool children, Mental illness, Sociodemographic factors, Child Behavior Checklist |
| Geographic Terms: | Australia |
| Abstract: | Background Mental health challenges are common in autistic individuals but there is limited research, particularly among preschool children. Aims To ascertain the nature and occurrence of mental health challenges in autistic preschool children, as well as their association with autistic traits and cognitive and adaptive functioning. Method We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected from children attending Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres across six states in Australia. The primary outcome of mental health challenges was assessed using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). The severity of autism and autistic traits, such as social communication differences and repetitive behaviours, alongside cognitive and adaptive functioning, were used as exposure variables. Multivariable linear regression analyses examined the associations among mental health challenges, autistic traits, cognitive level and adaptive functioning, and adjusted for key sociodemographic covariates. Results Among 760 children, about 76% scored above the clinical range of CBCL total problem scores. Mental health difficulties were significantly associated with greater severity of autistic traits, social communication differences and repetitive behaviours, and lower verbal developmental functioning and adaptive functioning. Additionally, sociodemographic determinants, such as children who were older, female or with an autistic sibling, were associated with higher risk of mental health difficulties, whereas culturally and linguistically diverse status, higher parental education and family income were protective against mental health challenges. Conclusions Our findings provide useful insights into the high prevalence of mental health difficulties among autistic preschool children, highlighting the significant association with autistic traits, cognitive and adaptive functioning levels and sociodemographic risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Biomedical Index |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Occurrence of mental health challenges and their association with autistic traits, cognitive level and adaptive functioning in autistic preschool children. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Weng+Tong%22">Wu, Weng Tong</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22John%2C+James+Rufus%22">John, James Rufus</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mendoza+Diaz%2C+Antonio%22">Mendoza Diaz, Antonio</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Eapen%2C+Valsamma%22">Eapen, Valsamma</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: BJPsych Open; Mar2026, Vol. 12 Issue 2, p1-8, 8p – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autism%22">Autism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+ability%22">Cognitive ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Life+skills%22">Life skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autism+spectrum+disorders%22">Autism spectrum disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+children%22">Preschool children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+illness%22">Mental illness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sociodemographic+factors%22">Sociodemographic factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Behavior+Checklist%22">Child Behavior Checklist</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Background Mental health challenges are common in autistic individuals but there is limited research, particularly among preschool children. Aims To ascertain the nature and occurrence of mental health challenges in autistic preschool children, as well as their association with autistic traits and cognitive and adaptive functioning. Method We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected from children attending Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres across six states in Australia. The primary outcome of mental health challenges was assessed using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). The severity of autism and autistic traits, such as social communication differences and repetitive behaviours, alongside cognitive and adaptive functioning, were used as exposure variables. Multivariable linear regression analyses examined the associations among mental health challenges, autistic traits, cognitive level and adaptive functioning, and adjusted for key sociodemographic covariates. Results Among 760 children, about 76% scored above the clinical range of CBCL total problem scores. Mental health difficulties were significantly associated with greater severity of autistic traits, social communication differences and repetitive behaviours, and lower verbal developmental functioning and adaptive functioning. Additionally, sociodemographic determinants, such as children who were older, female or with an autistic sibling, were associated with higher risk of mental health difficulties, whereas culturally and linguistically diverse status, higher parental education and family income were protective against mental health challenges. Conclusions Our findings provide useful insights into the high prevalence of mental health difficulties among autistic preschool children, highlighting the significant association with autistic traits, cognitive and adaptive functioning levels and sociodemographic risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: Abstract Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of BJPsych Open is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1192/bjo.2025.10966 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 8 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Australia Type: general – SubjectFull: Autism Type: general – SubjectFull: Cognitive ability Type: general – SubjectFull: Life skills Type: general – SubjectFull: Autism spectrum disorders Type: general – SubjectFull: Preschool children Type: general – SubjectFull: Mental illness Type: general – SubjectFull: Sociodemographic factors Type: general – SubjectFull: Child Behavior Checklist Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Occurrence of mental health challenges and their association with autistic traits, cognitive level and adaptive functioning in autistic preschool children. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Wu, Weng Tong – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: John, James Rufus – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mendoza Diaz, Antonio – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Eapen, Valsamma IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Mar2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20564724 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 12 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: BJPsych Open Type: main |
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