Association of difficulties in motor skills with longitudinal changes in social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder: findings from the ELENA French Cohort.

Developmental coordination disorder is a frequently co-occurring condition with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Several cross-sectional studies have reported that children with difficulties in motor skills have a higher severity of ASD symptoms. This study aims to examine the association of difficulties in motor skills with longitudinal changes in social skills in children with ASD. Participants were drawn from the ELENA cohort, a French longitudinal cohort of children with ASD. Motor skills were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children at baseline, while social skills were measured using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS-II) at both the baseline and a follow-up assessment conducted 3 years later. A composite score of social skills was created at baseline and at both time points. Linear regression models were performed to assess the association between difficulties in motor skills and changes in social skills, considering potential confounders such as IQ, age, and gender. The sample included 162 children with ASD. Children with difficulties in global motor skills (N = 114) showed less favorable trajectories in social skills compared to those without motor difficulties. The results were consistent when examining the ADOS-2 and the VABS-II separately. This study provides evidence for the negative impact of difficulties in motor skills on the longitudinal development of social skills in children with ASD. Interventions targeting motor difficulties may have broader benefits, extending beyond motor function to improve socialization.

Contributions of the ELENA Cohort to Study Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Adolescents from a Biopsychosocial Framework.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition influenced by a myriad of developmental, biological, psychological, and socio-demographic factors. The ELENA cohort seeks to delineate the intricate interplay of these factors, facilitating the identification of risk factors and the development of targeted interventions. This paper emphasizes the clinical profiles of children and outlines key findings from a biopsychosocial perspective. The ELENA cohort, a multicenter initiative across French regional centers, conducted a systematic prospective analysis on children newly diagnosed with DSM-5 ASD between 2012 and 2019. This encompassed direct assessments and parent-reported questionnaires covering a broad spectrum of developmental, biological, psychological and socio-demographic measures. Embedded case-control studies further examined risk and protective factors, alongside specific environmental and psychosocial influences during pregnancy and early childhood. A subset of participants also contributed biospecimens, with data enhancement via linkage to French National Administrative Healthcare Databases. The study unveils baseline clinical characteristics for 876 children, average age 6 (SD ± 3.3) previously unreported in protocol descriptions. It highlights the study's developmental biopsychosocial approach and its novel findings on children's socio-adaptive functioning, ASD severity, comorbidities, quality of life and interventions. Employing developmental biopsychosocial insights offers a promising pathway to integrating health, social care, and experiential insights, ultimately aiming to enhance the future well-being and outcomes for children with ASD. This approach underscores the need of a holistic, interdisciplinary strategy in encouraging and supporting the ASD community.