De invloed van geslacht van het kind en type hulpverlener op de herkenning van Autisme Spectrum Stoornis bij kinderen

Abstract

A diagnostic process will not occur without mental health professionals’ recognition of symptoms as a possible mental-health problem. Although recognition is important for identification and treatment, recognition of mental health problems and the influences on this process have received little attention in research. At the same time, the number of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has increased considerably in the last 25 years. It is of societal importance to understand the factors that are involved in recognition of ASD. This study therefore examined whether the recognition of ASD in children is influenced by the gender of the child and the type of professional and whether there is an interaction-effect of gender and type of professional. Clinical professionals (n = 818) evaluated online vignettes describing boys and girls with ASD. The results were analysed using binary logistic regression analyses. Both the gender of the child and the type of professional had no effect on the recognition of ASD. There was also no interaction-effect. This is possibly the result of an increased awareness and knowledge of ASD. Suggestions for future research and practical implications are discussed.