The traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder and bullying victimization in an epidemiological population.

Autistic children (Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD) show an increased risk of bullying victimization and often face challenges in communication and peer relationships. However, it is unclear to what extent the amount and quality of ASD traits are associated with bullying victimization. This study examined the association of bullying victimization and ASD traits in an epidemiological population of 8-year-old children (n = 4408) using parent and teacher completed Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaires (ASSQs), both separately and combined. The ASSQ items relating to loneliness and social isolation, lack of co-operating skills, clumsiness and lack of common sense were associated with victimization in the study population. The higher the ASSQ scores, the more the children were victimized: the ASSQ scores increased in parallel with victimization from 0 (0% victimized) to 45 (64% victimized). The victimization rate was 46% in ASD sample, 2% in the total population sample and 2% in the non-ASD population sample. The results enable more targeted means for recognizing potential victimization.

Factor analysis of the autism spectrum screening questionnaire in a population-based child sample.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate several possible factor structures of the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the 27-item screening tool for school-aged children in a general population of 8-year-old children (n = 3,538) and compared the occurring solutions to previously published factor models. RESULTS: A one-factor solution and a four-factor solution were identified in Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and confirmed with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), while two-, three-, five- and six-factor solutions were rejected. In CFA, our four-factor solution showed the best goodness-of-fit indexes when compared with factor models previously presented by Posserud et al. and Ehlers et al. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a strong underlying connection between all ASSQ items which is elicited by the one-factor solution. Although as a screening tool, ASSQ is functioning with the unifactorial solution, the four factors can help to identify certain clusters of autism spectrum traits.

Chronotype characteristics of professional athletes in China: a comprehensive descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Chronotype has gained recognition as a significant factor in enhancing athletic performance. This study aimed to deepen our understanding of athletes' sleep chronotypes and provide a foundation for developing evidence-based training and competition programs. By comprehensively describing and analyzing the chronotype characteristics of Chinese professional athletes, considering individual and sports factors, sleep quality and habits, and mental energy, this research aimed to contribute valuable insights to the field. METHODS: A sample of 1069 professional athletes from sports teams in Shanghai completed the Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire and the Athlete Mental Energy Scale to assess chronotype, sleep quality, sleep-influencing habits, and mental energy. RESULTS: Among athletes, sleep typology fell within the intermediate range, slightly leaning toward morningness. Male athletes and those who engaged in static sports displayed a greater propensity for morningness. Age correlated with a preference for eveningness. High-level athletes exhibited a stronger inclination toward eveningness. Sleep quality issues were associated with an inclination toward eveningness. Daily caffeine intake and the habit of using electronic devices before bedtime are also linked to eveningness. Chronotype demonstrated the ability to predict various dimensions of athletes' mental energy. It was the strongest predictor of vigor, but the loadings were smaller than those of sleep quality. CONCLUSION: Chinese athletes' chronotypes primarily exhibit distinct characteristics related to individual factors such as gender, sports discipline, and ranking, as well as habits like caffeine consumption and electronic device use. Moreover, these sleep patterns demonstrate predictive capabilities across all dimensions of athletes' mental energy. This study sheds light on Chinese athletes' unique sleep chronotype attributes, enriching our understanding of sleep patterns among professional athletes under various systems. These insights offer an initial basis for enhancing the effectiveness of athlete scheduling and training management.

Sleep Quality and Sleep Behaviors in Varsity Athletes: A Pilot Study.

Sleep hygiene practices may hinder university athletes from obtaining quality sleep to support health and performance. We sought to provide a comprehensive evaluation of sleep quality and behaviors in varsity athletes using validated sleep questionnaires: the Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) and the Athlete Sleep Behavior Questionnaire (ASBQ). Sixty-four (n = 64) athletes participated (54% female; 71% Caucasian). The mean age was 20.3 ± 1.7 years and the mean BMI was 23.3 ± 3.3. Fifty-one percent met the threshold for adequate sleep (7+ h) and 54% reported being somewhat/very satisfied with sleep quality. Global scores for ASSQ Sleep Difficulty and ASBQ sleep behaviors were significantly correlated (r = 0.31; p = 0.014) and not significantly different across age, academic year, or residence. According to the ASSQ, 11% and 24% were classified as having severe or moderate sleep problems, respectively. The ASBQ categorized 62% as having "poor" sleep behaviors. Notable sleep-influencing factors included a high frequency of emotional/cognitive processing of sport-performance issues (46.9%), frequent use of light-emitting devices before bed (90%), training after 7 pm (65%), and the use of sleep medication (19%). Half of the university athletes did not meet the thresholds for adequate sleep, and some may require a referral for clinical sleep issues. The majority of these athletes' sleep behaviors do not promote adequate sleep. The ASSQ shows utility to assess gradations in clinical sleep difficulty; the ASBQ could be used in concert with the ASSQ to discern "cognitive and physiological arousal" targets for use in educational workshops designed to promote optimal sleep hygiene in university athletes.

Sensory Abnormality and Quantitative Autism Traits in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder in an Epidemiological Population.

Sensory abnormalities (SAs) are recognized features in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and a relationship between SAs and ASD traits is also suggested in general population. Our aims were to estimate the prevalence of SAs in three different settings, and to study the association between SAs and quantitative autism traits (QAT) using the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) and a parental questionnaire. In an epidemiological population of 8-year-old children (n = 4397), the prevalence of SAs was 8.3%, in an ASD sample (n = 28), 53.6%, and in a non-ASD sample (n = 4369), 8.0%, respectively. Tactile and auditory hypersensitivity predicted an ASD diagnosis. The ASSQ was able to differentiate children with and without SA. In conclusion, QAT level and SAs were associated in all study samples.

Emotion recognition from the eye region in children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder in Arab and Scandinavian countries.

BACKGROUND: Difficulties in facial emotion recognition (ER) skills are linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in studies performed in Western and Eastern Asian countries. However, there is a paucity of research examining ER skills in Arab countries, where face-covering veils are more common than in Western countries. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to examine basic ER and ER error patterns in Egyptian and Finnish children with and without ASD. METHOD: We employed the eye-submodule of the Frankfurt Test and Training of Facial Affect Recognition (FEFA) and the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ). RESULTS: Arab children with ASD (n = 34, M age = 8.6 years, FSIQ = 96.7) recognized correctly fewer emotions than did Scandinavian children with ASD (n = 32, M age = 12.5 years, FSIQ = 102.8) and Arab typically developing (TD) children (n = 34, M age = 10.3 years, FSIQ = 123.4) in general and specifically on surprise, disgust and neutral scales as well as on a blended emotion scale. Scandinavian children with ASD demonstrated a lower ability to recognize emotions in general and specifically happiness than did Scandinavian TD children. There were no differences between Arab and Scandinavian (n = 28, M age = 13.9 years) TD children in ER accuracy. We found country specific differences in ER error patterns in happiness, sadness and anger: Arab children interpreted these emotions more often as another emotion (happiness = sadness, sadness = anger, anger = sadness and surprise), whereas Scandinavian children interpreted happiness and sadness as neutral expression and anger as disgust. Arab children with ASD labeled sadness and anger in their ER error patterns more negatively than did Arab TD children, but there were no differences between Scandinavian children with ASD and TD in ER error patterns. CONCLUSIONS: The differences between the Arab and Scandinavian children may reflect cultural differences in ER and ER error patterns.

Autism traits: The importance of "co-morbid" problems for impairment and contact with services. Data from the Bergen Child Study.

BACKGROUND: Co-occurring problems are common in individuals with clinical autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but their relevance for impairment and contact with health services in ASD is largely unexplored. AIMS: We investigated the extent of co-occurring problems in children with high ASD traits from a total population sample. We explored the contribution of co-occurring problems to impairment and service contact, and whether there were children without co-occurring problems in this group; as proxy for "ASD only". METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Children screening positive on the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) were used as proxy for ASD. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) were operationalised using symptom counts. A parent or teacher report above the 95th percentile counted as "problem" present for other symptom domains. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: 92% of ASSQ high-scorers had a minimum of two other problems. Emotional problems, ADHD symptoms and learning problems were the most commonly reported problems, also predicting impairment and contact with services. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Co-occurring problems were common in ASD screen positive children and contributed strongly to both impairment and to contact with services. Gender differences indicated that female symptoms were perceived as less impairing by parents and teachers.

"Brain MR spectroscopy in autism spectrum disorder-the GABA excitatory/inhibitory imbalance theory revisited".

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) from voxels placed in the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was measured from 14 boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and 24 gender and age-matched typically developing (TD) control group. Our main aims were to compare the concentration of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) between the two groups, and to investigate the relationship between brain metabolites and autism symptom severity in the ASD group. We did find a significant negative correlation in the ASD group between Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) and GABA+/Cr, which may imply that severity of symptoms in ASD is associated with differences in the level of GABA in the brain, supporting the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalance theory. However we did not find a significant difference between the two groups in GABA levels.

Tamizaje del Síndrome de Asperger en estudiantes de dos ciudades de Colombia a través de las escalas CAST y ASSQ * / Childhood Asperger syndrome test in Colombian school children through cast questionnaire and ASSQ TESTS

Resumen Objetivo: Se realizó el tamizaje de niños y adolescentes estudiantes de Bucaramanga y Medellín con el fin de identificar manifestaciones del Síndrome de Asperger (SA). Método: Luego de la firma del consentimiento informado por parte de los padres, se escogió en forma aleatoria 1.600 padres de niños y adolescentes de instituciones educativas de Bucaramanga y Medellín. Se excluyeron los estudiantes con discapacidad intelectual. Las escalas CAST y ASSQ, útiles para la identificación de indicadores de riesgo para la presencia de SA, fueron aplicadas en diferente orden, considerándose positivos para SA los puntajes superiores o iguales a 15 para CAST y 22 para ASSQ. Para el análisis estadístico se usó Stata SE 12.1. Resultados: Se encontraron mani festaciones del SA en el 9,1 % de la muestra con la escala ASSQ (IC95 % 7,7 % a 10,6 %) y un 8,8 % con la escala CAST (IC95 % 7,2 % a 10,7 %). No se encontraron diferencias significativas por ciudad, estrato o edad; pero sí por sexo, siendo más frecuente en varones que en mujeres tanto en la escala CAST (ZW=-3.569, p<0.001) como en la ASSQ (ZW=-2.089, p=0.037). Dis cusión: Las dos escalas identificaron manifestaciones de SA siendo mayor la presencia en varones que en mujeres. Sin embargo, no se recomienda su uso en contexto clínico y sí en tamizajes que incluyan evaluación por expertos en desarrollo de niños y adolescentes.

Abstract Objective: Researchers conducted screening tests (Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test (CAST) and The Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) in order to identify Colombian school children and teenagers from Bucaramanga and Medellin at risk for Asperger Syndrome (AS). Method: After signed informed parent consent, 1.600 school students between ages of 4 and 16 were selected randomly from educational institutions from Bucaramanga and Medellin. In order to identify children at risk for (AS), The Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test (CAST) and The Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) scales were applied in different ways, considering as follows: those who score positive are greater than or equal to 15 for the CAST and 22 for the ASSQ. For the statistical analysis, SE 12.1 Stata version was used. Results: In 9,1 % of the children sampled with diagnosis of (As), using ASSQ scale (95 % 7,7 % 10.6 %) and 8,8 with CAST scale (95 % 7,2 % 10,7 %) There were no significant differences taking into account city, stratum or age. But a positive score for gender was more frequent in men than in women both with CAST scale ZW = 3.569 p<0.001) as in the ASSQ (ZW = 2.089, p = 0.037) Discussion: (SA) diagnosis was identified with a higher presence in men than in women by the two scales. However, it is not recommended to use these scales in clinical context but through screening test which include evaluation in the development of children and adolescents by experts.