Family-Friendship Linkages in Youths With Autism Spectrum Disorder

ObjectiveTo examine the relative contribution of family functioning to friendship quality in youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).BackgroundYouths with ASD often experience problems in their friendships. Although researchers have identified linkages between individual youth characteristics and friendship difficulties in youths with ASD, much less is known about the possible linkages between family and friendship problems in this population. However, the family system is an important context in which youths with ASD can learn skills that are necessary for developing friendships.MethodThe current study examined the relations of key dimensions of family functioning and caregiver romantic relationships to central domains of friendship quality in youths with ASD, while also accounting for individual characteristics of the youths. Participants included youths with ASD (N = 93) and their primary caregivers who completed measures that assessed family, caregiver, and friendship variables.ResultsHierarchical linear regression models revealed that family functioning and caregiver romantic relationships explained significant variance in domains of youth friendship quality above and beyond individual youth characteristics.ConclusionFriendships in youths with ASD were more strongly related to important elements of the family system than to various characteristics of the individual youth.ImplicationsFamily relations should be considered in interventions that aim to improve peer relations for youth with ASD.