A preliminary evaluation of metacognitive beliefs in high functioning children with autism spectrum disorder
Abstract
Purpose
Metacognitive beliefs and processes have been found to perpetuate anxiety and depression in youth and adults. However, the presence of metacognitive beliefs in children with autism spectrum disorder is somewhat unclear and has received limited research attention to date. The purpose of this paper is to explore metacognitive beliefs in children with autism and associations with anxiety and depression.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 23 high functioning participants (17 male and 6 female) between the ages of 8 and 12 (M=10.38) diagnosed on the autism spectrum completed the study. Participants completed the Revised Children’s Scale of Anxiety and Depression and the Metacognitions Questionnaire for Children.
Findings
Correlation analyses revealed that positive and negative metacognitive beliefs were found, as hypothesised, to be prevalent in this sample.
Originality/value
Despite methodological limitations, this is one of the first research evaluations to provide evidence for metacognitive beliefs in high functioning children with autism and comorbid anxiety or low mood.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the young people and their families who took part in this research for their time and contribution.
Citation
Campbell, B., Curran, M., Inkpen, R., Katsikitis, M. and Kannis-Dymand, L. (2018), "A preliminary evaluation of metacognitive beliefs in high functioning children with autism spectrum disorder", Advances in Autism, Vol. 4 No. 2, pp. 73-84. https://doi.org/10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0017
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited