The moderating effect of gender on the relationship between socialization and internalizing problems in early childhood

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iv The Moderating Effect of Gender on the Relationship Between Socialization and Internalizing Problems in Early Childhood ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 Autism Spectrum Disorders ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 History -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 Current Criteria --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 Prevalence --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11 Etiology -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12 Symptomatology of Autism Spectrum Disorders -------------------------------------------------------------------------------14 Socialization -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14 Communication --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16 Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors and Interests (RRBI) -----------------------------------------------------------------18 Psychopathology in Early Childhood ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21 Internalizing Problems ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------23 Diagnosing Comorbid Conditions ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------23 Internalizing Disorders -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------23 Gender Differences -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------28 Autism Severity and Symptomatology ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------28 Internalizing Problems -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------29 Socialization and Internalizing Problems in Early Childhood -----------------------------------------------------------------32 Purpose ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------34 Method ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------37 Participants -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------37 Measures ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------38 Battelle Developmental Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-2). ----------------------------------------------------------38 Baby and Infant Screen for Children with Autism (BISCUIT). -------------------------------------------------------39 Procedure ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------40 Statistical Analyses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------42 Preliminary Analyses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------42 Regression Analysis --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------43 Results ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------45 Preliminary Analyses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------45 Regression Analysis --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------46 Discussion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------48 References ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------53 Appendix ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------60 Vita ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------61