1. Maternal Pragmatic Language Difficulties in the FMR1 Premutation and the Broad Autism Phenotype: Associations with Individual and Family Outcomes
- Author
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Klusek, Jessica, Thurman, Angela John, and Abbeduto, Leonard
- Subjects
Cognitive and Computational Psychology ,Health Sciences ,Psychology ,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) ,Genetics ,Mental Health ,Clinical Research ,Brain Disorders ,Rare Diseases ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Fragile X Syndrome ,Autism ,Pediatric ,2.3 Psychological ,social and economic factors ,2.1 Biological and endogenous factors ,Aetiology ,Mental health ,Good Health and Well Being ,Autism Spectrum Disorder ,Depression ,Family ,Female ,Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein ,Humans ,Language ,Loneliness ,Mothers ,Phenotype ,Social communication ,Fragile X premutation ,Fragile X syndrome ,Autism spectrum disorder ,Education ,Psychology and Cognitive Sciences ,Developmental & Child Psychology ,Health sciences - Abstract
Broader phenotypes associated with genetic liability, including mild difficulties with pragmatic language skills, have been documented in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and mothers of children with fragile X syndrome (FXS). This study investigated the relationship between pragmatic difficulties and indicators of maternal well-being and family functioning. Pragmatic difficulty was associated with loneliness in mothers of children with ASD or FXS, and with depression, decreased life satisfaction, and poorer family relationship quality in mothers of children with FXS only. Results inform subtle maternal pragmatic language difficulties as a risk factor that that may contribute to reduced health and well-being, informing tailored support services to better meet the unique needs of families of children with ASD or FXS.
- Published
- 2022