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Article

Dysregulation Profile in Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Italian Multi-Center Perspective

by
Eugenia Conti
1,2,
Sara Calderoni
1,2,*,
Silvia Guerrera
3,
Andrea Guzzetta
1,2,
Giuseppina Palermo
4,
Andrea De Giacomo
5,
Raffaella Tancredi
1,
Stefano Vicari
3,6 and
Marco Turi
4,7
1
Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy
2
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
3
Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
4
Stella Maris Mediterraneo Foundation, 85032 Chiaromonte, Italy
5
Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University Hospital, 70124 Bari, Italy
6
Life Sciences and Public Health Department, Catholic University, 00153 Rome, Italy
7
Department of Human and Social Studies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Children 2024, 11(12), 1474; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11121474
Submission received: 10 November 2024 / Revised: 26 November 2024 / Accepted: 29 November 2024 / Published: 30 November 2024
(This article belongs to the Collection Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Children and Adolescents: Assessment and Intervention)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication impairments and repetitive behaviors. Recent reports show that one in thirty-six 8-year-old children are autistic, signifying a considerable public health concern. According to previous studies, emotional dysregulation (ED) affects 50–60% of individuals with ASD and includes symptoms such as poor emotional control, heightened reactivity, and a low frustration tolerance. The main aims of the current study are to investigate the prevalence of ED among autistic preschoolers (below 6 years of age) and to assess the impacts of gender and intellectual disability on their emotional dysregulation profile. Methods: Data have been collected from three children’s research hospitals in Italy (IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Stella Maris Mediterraneo Foundation, and IRCCS Bambino Gesù). Parents of 825 autistic pre-schooled children (mean age: 39.68 months, SD: 10.51 months) completed a general questionnaire and the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), a reliable caregiver-reported assessment tool which provides a dysregulation profile. Results: A total of 30% of the children displayed a severe-to-moderate ED (emotional dysregulation) profile, with these children exhibiting significantly higher emotional–behavioral problems compared to those without ED. Males with ED exhibited greater emotional reactivity than females with ED. However, no significant relationships were found between ED and age, autism severity (ADOS-2), or intellectual disability. Conclusions: The results underline the importance of early, tailored interventions to face emotional challenges in young children with ASD, potentially improving long-term outcomes for this population.
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder; preschoolers; emotional dysregulation; gender; young autistic children Autism Spectrum Disorder; preschoolers; emotional dysregulation; gender; young autistic children

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Conti, E.; Calderoni, S.; Guerrera, S.; Guzzetta, A.; Palermo, G.; De Giacomo, A.; Tancredi, R.; Vicari, S.; Turi, M. Dysregulation Profile in Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Italian Multi-Center Perspective. Children 2024, 11, 1474. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11121474

AMA Style

Conti E, Calderoni S, Guerrera S, Guzzetta A, Palermo G, De Giacomo A, Tancredi R, Vicari S, Turi M. Dysregulation Profile in Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Italian Multi-Center Perspective. Children. 2024; 11(12):1474. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11121474

Chicago/Turabian Style

Conti, Eugenia, Sara Calderoni, Silvia Guerrera, Andrea Guzzetta, Giuseppina Palermo, Andrea De Giacomo, Raffaella Tancredi, Stefano Vicari, and Marco Turi. 2024. "Dysregulation Profile in Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Italian Multi-Center Perspective" Children 11, no. 12: 1474. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11121474

APA Style

Conti, E., Calderoni, S., Guerrera, S., Guzzetta, A., Palermo, G., De Giacomo, A., Tancredi, R., Vicari, S., & Turi, M. (2024). Dysregulation Profile in Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Italian Multi-Center Perspective. Children, 11(12), 1474. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11121474

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