Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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One in 650-1000 individuals has sex chromosome trisomy (SCT), being born with an extra X or Y chromosome (XXX; XXY; XYY). SCT comes with various developmental risks. The present study was designed...Show moreOne in 650-1000 individuals has sex chromosome trisomy (SCT), being born with an extra X or Y chromosome (XXX; XXY; XYY). SCT comes with various developmental risks. The present study was designed to evaluate the relation between parental factors (parenting skills (parental reflective functioning, sensitivity, and intrusiveness) and family functioning) and the social cognitive skills and its rate of development of children with SCT. Literature suggests that parenting skills and family functioning influence social cognitive development in typical children, but this has not been researched in children with SCT. Included in this study were 106 children with SCT and 102 controls (age M = 3.65, SD = 1.78 range = .98-7.66). A free play task, the parental developmental interview, and a questionnaire were used for evaluating parental factors, and the social cognitive skills of the child were measured using the ASIEP-3. Children with SCT showed significant impairments in social cognitive skills while the rate of development of social cognitive skills proved identical to controls. Parental sensitivity, intrusiveness, and reflective functioning were similar across groups and were found to not significantly influence social cognitive development. Family functioning was found to be positively related to the social cognitive skills of SCT children. However, family functioning did not influence the rate of social cognitive development of either SCT or control groups. The findings imply other factors to be of more importance in the social cognitive development of children with SCT at the average ages of 1-2 years and 3-6 years. It is recommended to research other factors, namely brain maturation and timing of diagnosis. Further knowledge about which factors stimulate the development of the social cognitive abilities of children with SCT, to what extent and at what age, is of importance as this may help to develop and personalize prevention and intervention programs.Show less
