ERIC Number: EJ1195876
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Dec
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: N/A
Understanding Friendship Sex Heterophily and Relational Characteristics to Optimize the Selection of Peer Models for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Locke, Jill; Anderson, Ariana; Frederick, Lindsay; Kasari, Connie
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v48 n12 p4010-4018 Dec 2018
This study used social network analysis to evaluate whether sex heterophily, the degree to which peers are different in sex, between 126 children with autism (ages 5-12 years) and their peers affected social network connectivity. Results indicate that: (1) the quantity and sex of friends were more important in predicting social network connectivity than the relational characteristics of the friends (friendship nominations and social network salience/popularity); and (2) sex heterophily is an important factor in predicting social network connectivity. For males with autism, having friends of the same sex was associated with better social network connectivity; this was not true for females with autism. These findings have important implications for the selection of peer models for elementary-aged children with autism.
Descriptors: Social Networks, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Elementary School Students, Network Analysis, Gender Differences, Friendship, Prediction, Peer Acceptance, Correlation
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Health Resources and Services Administration (DHHS); National Institute of Mental Health (DHHS/NIH); National Institute on Aging (DHHS/NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: UA3MC11055; NCT00095420; K01MH100199; R03MH106922; K25AG051782