The socio-emotional responses to ostracism of 4-6 years children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have social-communication deficits and are often targets of bullying or ostracism. However, in the past, little has been done to examine these children’s response to negative social interactions. This study investigated how children with Autism Spectrum Disorder detect and respond to ostracism. Thirty 4-6 years old children with Autism Spectrum Disorder were either included or excluded via an online ball-tossing game. Participant’s detection, feelings, imitative behavior, joint attention, social initiations and reciprocal play were then measured. Relative to those in the inclusion condition, children in the exclusion condition reported higher levels of exclusion, more negative feelings, and showed more increase in motor imitation. Implications of these findings on early interventions were discussed.