Comparison of the social communication levels of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and their mothers' alexythimi levels with the social communication levels of normally developing children and their mothers' alexythimi levels

The current study aimed to compare the social communication levels and mothers' alexithymia levels of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with the social communication levels and mothers' alexithymia levels of normally developing children. The case group included 89 children diagnosed with ASD, aged between 3-7, and their mothers, living in Diyarbakır province. The control group consists of 84 normally developing children aged between 3-7 and their mothers. Demographic Information Form, Social Communication Checklist-Revised-Preschool Turkish Version (SILKOL-R-OTV), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-2) and Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) were used in the study. Mothers filled out all of the scales used. Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis to examine the relationships between variables; Independent samples t-test, Mann Whitney U test, one-way analysis of variance and Kruskal Wallis analysis to examine the differences between groups; Regression analyzes were performed to examine the predictors. According to the findings; A negative significant relationship was found between the alexithymia level of the mothers in the case group and their children's social participation and communication understanding sub-dimensions, and a positive significant relationship was found between the sensory sub-dimension. A negative significant relationship was found between the total score of the social communication level of the children in the case group, social participation, using communication, understanding communication, imitation/play sub-dimensions and autism severity. The total social communication scores of the children in both the case and control groups and their mothers' alexithymia levels differ. The sum of social participation, understanding of communication, imitation/play and social communication of the children in the case group; As for the children in the control group; The sum of social participation, use of communication and social communication level differs significantly according to the mother's education level. Communication comprehension and imitation/play scores of the children in the control group differ according to the mother's education level. The total alexithymia score of the mothers in the case group differs according to screen exposure, and their children's social communication levels predict the severity of autism. In the case group, four sub-dimensions of social communication level predict autism severity. The findings obtained within the scope of the study were discussed in the light of the relevant literature and suggestions were presented.