ERIC Number: EJ1221731
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Aug
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: N/A
Anglo-Latino Differences in Parental Concerns and Service Inequities for Children at Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Blacher, Jan; Stavropoulos, Katherine; Bolourian, Yasamine
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v23 n6 p1554-1562 Aug 2019
In an evaluation of Anglo and Latina mothers and their children at risk of autism, this study compared mother-reported child behavioral concerns to staff-observed symptoms of autism. Within Latina mothers, the impact of primary language (English/Spanish), mothers' education, and child age on ratings of developmental concerns was examined. Participants were 218 mothers (Anglo = 85; Latina = 133) of children referred to a no-cost autism screening clinic. Mothers reported on behavioral concerns, autism symptomology, and services received; children were administered the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule by certified staff. Results revealed that Anglo and Latino children did not differ by autism symptoms or classification. However, Anglo mothers reported significantly more concerns than Latina mothers. Within the Latina group, analyses revealed significant interaction effects of language and child age; Spanish-speaking mothers of preschoolers endorsed fewer concerns, while Spanish-speaking mothers of school-aged children endorsed more concerns. Despite these reports, Anglo children with a classification of autism spectrum disorder were receiving significantly more services than Latino children with autism spectrum disorder, suggesting early beginnings of a service divide as well as the need for improved parent education on child development and advocacy for Latino families.
Descriptors: Hispanic Americans, Whites, Mothers, At Risk Persons, Children, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Behavior Problems, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Language Usage, Educational Attainment, Age Differences, Child Development, Cultural Differences, Ethnicity, Interaction, Spanish Speaking, Disability Identification
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R324A110086