Psychology Theses

Recent shifts towards a neurodiversity perspective of autism have highlighted misunderstandings regarding Autistic people’s social interaction. In the area of prosocial behaviour (e.g., helping, sharing, comforting), diagnostic criteria and tools suggest that Autistic children lack prosocial capacities. However, evidence has indicated conflicting outcomes. Therefore, in the face of mixed theory and evidence, further research is needed. The overarching aim of this thesis was to clarify our understanding and increase knowledge about Autistic children’s prosocial behaviour and associated predictors. To meet these aims, Study 1 outlines a systematic review of published peer reviewed literature. Twenty-nine studies presented in 31 articles are reviewed. Study quality limitations and the various methodologies used to-date are outlined. A narrative synthesis of reviewed studies reveals positive findings regarding the frequency of Autistic children’s prosocial behaviour when compared to neurotypical children. Observations via the synthesis include numerous predictors of prosocial behaviour and identified differences in Autistic children’s approach to the behaviour. By collating this diverse body of literature, the review serves as a useful entry-point into the field and should prove a valuable resource for Autistic individuals, researchers and practitioners. Study 2 met the aims of the thesis through empirical examination of the prosocial behaviour of 51 children with Autistic characteristics via parent-report measures. Findings revealed increased prosocial behaviour with age, and towards familiar targets with whom increased empathy was experienced. Findings contribute to the evidence base that highlights the social context of Autistic social interaction. Recommendations are provided for clinical practice and research including a neurodiversity-affirmative position which celebrates Autistic differences. A relational approach towards assessment, intervention and future research is further advised. Overall, the present thesis highlights the prosocial strengths and potential of Autistic children, and the numerous ways their prosocial behaviour can be supported.

Background: Distinct sensory processing patterns have been shown to occur for both Autistic children and adolescents and individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). There are also elevated rates of OCD in autism. It has therefore been suggested that sensory processing may be an important focal point for understanding the relationship between autism and OCD. Aim: The overarching aim of this research programme is to explore the relationship between autism, OCD and sensory processing patterns, and the interplay between them. Two studies were designed with this research aim in mind. Study one: Study one is a systematic review which aimed to explore relationships between psychological features in autism and sensory processing patterns in children and adolescents. Nine studies were evaluated for methodological rigor and reporting quality, and results were systematically analysed using narrative synthesis. Sensory processing patterns were found to correlate with a range of psychological constructs. Further research which includes direct experiences of Autistic children and adults is needed to extend these findings. Study two: Study two examines the relationship between features of autism, OCD and sensory processing in children and adolescents (n = 65), measured using diagnostic interviews and parent-reported questionnaires. Correlational analyses and follow up regression analysis were performed. Findings indicate that OCD and autism have significant relationships with sensory processing patterns, but not with each other. Social and communication-related features of autism in particular appear to be related to sensory processing. OCD traits were found to be associated with hypersensitivity to sensory input, which has been suggested by both previous research and anecdotal clinical evidence. Conclusions: Findings from this research support the significance of distinct sensory processing patterns as having a significant association with both autism and OCD, which has important clinical and theoretical implications. Although OCD and autism are known to commonly occur with each other, a significant relationship between them was not established by this research programme. Future research should explore the lived experience and perspective of Autistic individuals.

The current thesis aimed to explore the parent-child relationship in Autistic children and adolescents, and the implications this relationship has on child development. The thesis consists of two studies, a systematic review and an empirical study, which look at two aspects of parent-child relationships in Autism. In the systematic review, the correlates of the parent-child attachment relationship in Autism were examined, with mixed findings. Language, play, and developmental level seemed to have associations with attachment, while little research investigated internalising and externalising symptoms. The empirical study examined the relationship between parental affective attitudes, Autistic characteristics, and internalising and externalising symptoms. Results demonstrated high rates of internalising and externalising symptoms in this Irish population, however there were very few associations between parental affective attitudes and Autistic characteristics or co-occurring symptoms. Limitations regarding both studies are outlined, and clinical implications and avenues for future research are discussed.

Autistic people experience increased rates of mental health conditions and symptoms compared to their non-autistic peers; autistic women and trans people perhaps more so. However, there is not yet a consensus as to why this is the case. Through the lens of the neurodiversity paradigm, the present thesis aimed to develop an understanding of the factors that impact autistic people’s mental health, from the perspective of autistic people themselves. First, this thesis presents a systematic review and thematic synthesis of the perspectives of autistic females on what experiences have impacted their mental health and wellbeing. Findings suggested that the biological and psychological factors associated with being autistic interact with a variety of environmental and social factors, in turn shaping wellbeing and mental health outcomes. Second, an empirical mixed-methods study is presented, which investigated mental health experiences and the factors that contributed to mental health and wellbeing in mixed-gender samples. The qualitative phase consisted of semi-structured interviews with 20 autistic adults and the quantitative phase investigated key factors identified by interviewees in a sample of 236 autistic adults using standardised questionnaires. High levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms and low levels of wellbeing were reported. Autistic cisgender women reported higher levels of anxiety, while autistic trans people reported more depressive symptoms. Feelings of exclusion and isolation, childhood bullying, autism-related stigma and challenges related to the neurotypical environment were all found to predict mental health and wellbeing. Overall, the findings of the present thesis point to the need for community adaptations or interventions to create a more accessible and accepting society, as well as improvements in service provision for autistic adults.

Atypical sensory responsivity in autism spectrum disorder have been noted since the first descriptions of the condition in 1943. However, anomalous sensory processing has only been recognised as a diagnostic criterion for autism since the latest revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 2013 (DSM-5). Atypical sensory responsivity has been linked to social and communication difficulties in autistic children and adults. Additionally, alexithymia – which refers to difficulties in recognizing/ distinguishing bodily states associated with emotions- is found to co-occur with autism, potentially impacting self-awareness and empathy towards others. It has been suggested that differences in sensory responsivity in autism can be at least partially explained by the Predictive Coding Framework (PCF) which proposes that anomalous sensory responsivity reflects faulty updating of the brain’s ‘best guess’ as to incoming information. By this account, anomalous sensory responsivity should be highly correlated with other core features of autism. The current research investigates sensory responsiveness and social and communication anomalies in autistic children and young people. Sixty-one parents/guardians of autistic and neurotypical (NT) children and young people participated in this research. Parents were invited to answer four online scales relating to their child’s sensory, social and communication, and alexithymia traits. We find a significant difference between the autism and NT groups’ performances on all four scales. Furthermore, hypo-responsiveness and sensory seeking is correlated with core features of autism and restricted interests and repetitive behaviour, and hyper-responsiveness is correlated with core features of autism, alexithymia, and restricted interests and repetitive behaviour for the autism group but not the NT group. These findings concur with previous research showing that autistic children and young people have greater social and communication atypicalities relating to sensory responses than reported in neurotypical children and young people. It could be suggested that comorbid alexithymia can explain some of the social atypicalities experienced by autistic children. To conclude, it is hypothesised that differences in sensory responses are due to an altered predictive coding framework. A greater emphasis on incoming sensory information and aberrant predictive ability could give rise to hyper-responsivity, hypo-responsivity, and sensory seeking responses in autistic children and young people.