Parenting a child with autism can be particularly stressful and challenging, especially during periods of crises. This study focuses on parenting children with autism during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison to the economic crisis, six years ago. We administered the same set of questionnaires (CES-D, F-COPES, PSI-SF, and WHOQoL-BREF), along with a demographic characteristic and a COVID-19-related questionnaire to the same group of parents of children with autism as we did six years ago. Results indicated that during the COVID-19 crisis, the level of parenting stress and the distress due to personal factors related to demands of parenting, were significantly lower compared to the economic crisis, while the environment facet of quality of life was significantly higher. The depressive symptomatology was elevated during both periods. Finally, when addressing the pandemic crisis, parents were more likely to passively accept problematic issues, less able to obtain social support, and less able to acquire and accept help from others. In our sample, findings differentiate the genre of crises through the parents’ responses regarding the sense of competence in their parental role, their quality of life, and the coping strategies they implemented. The study implies that each crisis must be confronted with particular responses to particular needs.

Developmental executive function (EF) theories have proposed distinct domains of EF (cool and hot) but the EF development in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been assessed mainly with cool EF measures. Little is known regarding the development of hot EF in ASD. EF is suggested to strongly associate to theory of mind (ToM) in typical development but the correlation between hot EF and ToM is understudied in ASD. The current study was aimed at investigating the cross-sectional developmental changes of cool and hot EF in middle childhood and adolescence and their association to ToM in ASD. Eighty-two children and adolescents (7–16 years) were assessed with measures of cool EF (inhibition, working memory, planning, and cognitive flexibility), hot EF (affective decision-making and delay discounting), and ToM (2nd-order false belief and ignorance; mental state/emotion recognition). Our results showed that the trajectories of all cool EF presented linear age-related improvements in ASD. In terms of hot EF, trajectories demonstrated non-linear functions of age for affective decision-making and delay discounting. Both EF domains were found to associate with ToM over and above age, while hot EF associated with ToM over and above cool EF as well. The investigation of the developmental trajectories of cool and hot EF may help define potential cognitive phenotypes across age within ASD.

Background: Schizotypal traits are notably prevalent among children diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Both conditions commonly exhibit impairments in executive functions (EF), which encompass cool and hot processes. The observed deficits in these EF domains across ASD and schizotypy underscore a compelling need to investigate how their co-occurrence impacts EF. Methods: This study investigated the impact of co-occurring autistic and schizotypal traits on EF in 63 children diagnosed with ASD, aged 7 to 12 years. Participants were assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2), the Melbourne Assessment of Schizotypy in Kids (MASK), and a battery of hot and cool EF tests. Results: Correlational analyses revealed a significant association between MASK score and working memory, as well as between ADOS scores and various cool EF components (i.e., working memory, inhibition and planning). Hierarchical regression analyses showed that the interaction between ADOS and MASK scores significantly predicted performance on hot EF (i.e., affective decision-making), but not on cool EF tasks. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the co-occurrence of ASD and schizotypal traits may have differential effects on cool and hot EF domains. Understanding how the combination of autistic and schizotypal traits affects cognitive processes may inform tailored interventions and support strategies for individuals presenting with these traits.

Background: Schizotypal traits are considered to be clinical and cognitive features of Schizotypal Disorder in children (SDc). These traits are also seen in children and adolescents with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study examines the influence of schizotypal traits (and their severity) on the capacity of children with ASD to manage emotions, develop relationships with others, and adapt in school and family life. Methods: The Schizotypal traits of 63 children (6–12 years old) with High Functioning ASD were measured by the Melbourne Assessment of Schizotypy in Kids (MASK). Parents and teachers of the participating children completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teachers’ Report Form (TRF) from the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). Results: Overall, the results indicated correlations between the MASK scores and problems recorded by teachers, such as Internalizing problems (i.e., Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn/Depressed, and Other problems score) according to TRF and Inappropriate speech scores, according to teacher’s ABC scales. Schizotypal traits impact the social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children with ASD at home and school environments. Conclusions: The assessment of schizotypal traits in children with ASD provides critical information about a child’s functionality and cognitive development, also leading to the identification of potential cognitive-neuropsychological endophenotypes within ASD with characteristics of both Autism and Schizophrenia spectra. Τhe development of a valid assessment tool is required, as well as the design of targeted interventions to prevent the loss of functionality.

Schizotypal traits are considered to be clinical and cognitive features of Schizotypal Disorder in children (SDc). These traits are also seen in children and adolescents with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study examines the influence of schizotypal traits (and their se-verity) on the capacity of children with ASD to manage emotions, develop relationships with others and adapt in school and family life. Methods: The Schizotypal traits of 63 children (6-12 years old) with High Functioning ASD were measured by the Melbourne Assessment of Schizotypy in Kids (MASK). Parents and teachers of the participating children completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teachers' Report Form (TRF) from the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). Results: Overall, the results indi-cated significant correlations between the MASK scores and problems recorded by teachers, such as Internalizing problems (i.e., Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn/Depressed, & Other problems score) according to TRF and Inappropriate speech score, according to teacher’s ABC scales. Schizotypal traits impact the social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children with ASD at home and school environment. Conclusions: The assessment of schizotypal traits in children with ASD provides critical information about a child’s functionality and cognitive development, also leading to identification of potential cognitive - neuropsychological endophenotype within ASD with characteristics of both Autism and Schizophrenia spectra. Τhe development of a valid assessment tool is required, as well as the design of targeted interventions to prevent the loss of functionality.

Background: Schizotypal traits are notably prevalent among children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Both conditions commonly exhibit impairments in executive functions (EF), which encompass "cool" and "hot" processes. The observed deficits in these EF domains across ASD and schizotypy underscore a compelling need to investigate how their co-occurrence impacts EF. Methods: This study investigated the impact of co-occurring autistic and schizotypal traits on EF in 63 children diagnosed with ASD, aged 7 to 12 years. Participants were assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2), the Melbourne Assessment of Schizotypy in Kids (MASK), and a battery of hot and cool EF tests. Results: Correlational analyses revealed a significant association between MASK score and working memory, as well as between ADOS scores and various cool EF components (i.e., working memory, inhibition & planning). Hierar-chical regression analyses showed that the interaction between ADOS and MASK scores signifi-cantly predicted performance on hot EF (i.e., affective decision-making), but not on cool EF tasks. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the co-occurrence of ASD and schizotypal traits may have differential effects on cool and hot EF domains. Understanding how the combination of autistic and schizotypal traits affects cognitive processes may inform tailored interventions and support strategies for individuals presenting with these traits.