Correlations between Behavioral Profiles, Executive Functioning and Empathy in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Guidelines for Intervention

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction and by restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests, eventually explained by difficulties in executive functions (EF) and empathy. Thus, the aim of this investigation was to study the relationships between typical behaviors of ASD, EF and empathy, in order to establish intervention guidelines. The ASD Typical Behavior Questionnaire, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function for parents (BRIEF) and the Empathy Assessment Scale (EAS) were applied to 75 children with ASD (9.67±1.29). The results showed positive correlations between the symptomatology of ASD and EF, namely in behavioral regulation and metacognition. The strongest positive correlation (p