Seks Chromosoom Trisomie (SCT) is een chromosomale afwijking waarbij kinderen worden geboren met een extra X- of Y-chromosoom. Kinderen met SCT lopen een hoger risico op problemen in sociaal...Show moreSeks Chromosoom Trisomie (SCT) is een chromosomale afwijking waarbij kinderen worden geboren met een extra X- of Y-chromosoom. Kinderen met SCT lopen een hoger risico op problemen in sociaal functioneren en op het ontwikkelen van een Autisme Spectrum Stoornis (ASS). Onderzoek naar sociaal functioneren en de relatie met ASS bij kinderen met SCT is beperkt. Empathie wordt beschouwd als belangrijk voor sociaal functioneren en lijkt verminderd te zijn bij kinderen met SCT. Deze studie heeft als doel te onderzoeken of de relatie tussen empathie, sociale gedragsvaardigheden en autisme-eigenschappen verschilt voor kinderen met SCT en controles. Deelnemers aan dit onderzoek waren 37 kinderen met SCT en 38 controles. Kinderen werden beoordeeld tijdens een test van 120 minuten. Ouders werd gevraagd om vragenlijsten in te vullen terwijl het kind werd getest. Om sociale gedragsvaardigheden te meten (Gedeelde Aandacht, Sociale Interactie en Gedragsverzoeken) werd de ESCS gebruikt. Om empathie te meten werd de EmQue-vragenlijst gebruikt, en om autisme-eigenschappen te meten werd de SRS-2 gebruikt. Kinderen met SCT vertoonden significant meer autisme-eigenschappen dan controles. Kinderen met SCT toonden ook significant minder empathie dan controles. Kinderen met SCT verschilden niet van controles in Gedeelde Aandacht of Sociale Interactie. Ze verschilden wel van controles in Gedragsverzoeken. Empathie en sociale gedragsvaardigheden verklaarden niet het verschil in autisme-eigenschappen tussen kinderen met SCT en controles. De interactie tussen de leeftijd van de kinderen en de onderzoeksgroep bleek net niet significant in het verklaren van het verschil in autisme-eigenschappen tussen SCT en controles.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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Background and objective: Sex Chromosome Trisomy (SCT) refers to having an extra X or Y chromosome (XXX, XXY, XYY), which occurs in approximately 1-2 of 1000 children. In this study, social...Show moreBackground and objective: Sex Chromosome Trisomy (SCT) refers to having an extra X or Y chromosome (XXX, XXY, XYY), which occurs in approximately 1-2 of 1000 children. In this study, social attention, Theory of Mind (ToM) and neurobehavioral outcomes are investigated in preschool aged children with SCT compared to typically developing controls. Furthermore, the study aims to explore with a longitudinal design whether social attention and ToM in preschool aged children with SCT can be predictive of neurobehavioral outcomes one year later. Methods: In this study 71 children with SCT (aged 3-7) and 71 typically developing age matched controls participated. The Social Interaction Scanning (SIS) eye tracking paradigm was used to investigate social attention. ToM skills were measured with the ToM subtest of the Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment, second edition (NEPSY-II). Neurobehavioral outcomes were measured with the Social Responsiveness Scale, second edition (SRS-2), Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD and Normal behavior (SWAN) and the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL) parental questionnaires respectively. Results: Results of the current study show a vulnerability for children with SCT in the domain of social attention to faces and eyes and ToM compared to typically developing controls. Findings are more pronounced for children aged 5-7 years old. Furthermore, children with SCT appear at increased risk for poorer neurobehavioral outcomes. Finally, results of the current study suggest that ToM may have a unique predictive value for social impairment over time, specifically in the domain of social communication and interaction. Secondly, social attention may have a unique predictive value for ADHD symptoms over time. Conclusions: Results indicate that screening of social cognitive functions (around the age of 5-7) and monitoring of neurodevelopmental pathways is important for clinical practice in SCT. In future research the efficacy of early tailored interventions targeting social cognitive skills in SCT can be investigated, to positively influence developmental outcomes of children with SCT.Show less
Genes on the X and Y chromosomes have been found to have influence on the development of the brain, and thus on the development of psychopathology. Children with Sex Chromosome Trisomies (SCT) have...Show moreGenes on the X and Y chromosomes have been found to have influence on the development of the brain, and thus on the development of psychopathology. Children with Sex Chromosome Trisomies (SCT) have an abnormal number of X or Y chromosomes and may therefore be at risk for developmental problems, including internalizing problems. The present study aims to provide an answer to the question whether children aged 1 to 6 years with SCT have more internalizing symptoms than children without SCT, whether there is a difference between SCT karyotypes (XXX, XXY or XYY) and to what extent internalizing symptoms increase with age. This study included 29 children with XXX, 43 children with XXY, 20 children with XYY and 42 boys and 46 girls without SCT, all between the age of 1 to 6. These children’s parents completed the CBCL1-5 and a background-questionnaire while the WIPPSI-III was administered to the children. The study showed that children with SCT have an increased amount of internalizing symptoms compared to the control group. It also appears that there is a difference between the three SCT groups in degree of difference with the control group on internalizing symptoms. Finally, internalizing symptoms of children with SCT appear to have a stronger increase with age than the control group. In all three outcomes, it was also found that there is a difference between the SCT groups and between the SCT group and control group in which types of internalizing symptoms emerge. Thus, this study has shown that it is important to be aware of internalizing symptoms in young children, so that further development of these problems can be prevented. It is also important to keep in mind that internalizing problems manifest differently in these children, which makes it important to find a fitting intervention.Show less
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
