Emotional and Behavioural Profiles, Parenting Factors and Empathy in Young Children with Callous- Unemotional Traits and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits are associated with more severe behavioural challenges and poorer long-term outcomes. In recent years, research into CU traits has extended into earlier developmental periods. The literature has also taken a neurodevelopmental and transdiagnostic shift into considering CU traits profiles within not only disruptive behaviour disorders, but also Autism Spectrum Disorder. This thesis aims to determine whether CU traits can be observed as a distinct cooccurring feature in young autistic children, and whether high CU traits present with similar profiles of behaviour, regulation, parent-related factors and empathy development across non-autistic and likely-autistic young children. The thesis comprises three empirical studies that involved intensive data collection with families of clinic-referred children. CU traits were measured using the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits, while likely-autistic children were identified using a combination of clinical interview, Social Communication Questionnaire, and ADOS-2 administration. Profiles of child behaviour, regulation, parent-related factors, and empathy were measured using both parent-report questionnaires and in-vivo observational tasks. Results supported the view that CU traits can be observed and measured within early childhood and can co-occur but with a distinct profile within likely-autistic children. Findings also demonstrated that CU traits appear to be characterised by distinct correlates when occurring across non-autistic and likely-autistic young children with conduct problems. Further, CU traits may be more strongly associated than ASD features with various empathy deficits. This research highlights the importance of considering dysregulation within the context of empathy behaviours in young children. We also highlight a lack of convergence between parent-report measures and observational-coded measures of empathy and discuss the implications of this for future research.