To function well in Western societies children must develop skills to recognize, regulate and applicate emotions adequately. In this study it is hypothesized that such skills related to emotional...Show moreTo function well in Western societies children must develop skills to recognize, regulate and applicate emotions adequately. In this study it is hypothesized that such skills related to emotional intelligence are less well developed in children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)/Conduct Disorder (CD). By means of a questionnaire, completed by parents, data was collected concerning the emotional intelligence of children in The Netherlands. The subjects in this study are 290 children in the age four to 18 years (M=10.80; SD=3.46). The levels of the emotional intelligence related skills of the four following groups were mutually compared: children with ASD, children with ODD/CD, children with both ASD and ODD/CD and typically developing children. Comparisons were controlled for developmental age (4-to-11-years/12-to-18-years) and gender (boys/girls) of the children. Findings showed that children with ASD and/or ODD/CD have lower levels of emotional intelligence than typically developing children. Their ability to recognize, regulate and apply emotions is less well developed. A mutual comparison of developmental disorders showed that children with only ODD/CD recognize emotions better than children with only ASD and children with both ASD and ODD/CD, while children with only ASD regulate emotions better than children with ODD/CD and children with both ODD/CD and ASD. Children with only ODD/CD are better in applying emotions than children with only ASD. No differences were found between the younger and older children, nor were any differences found between boys and girls. The lack of emotional intelligence related skills found in this study can partly explain the social problems children with ASD and/or ODD/CD experience in society. To improve the social functioning clinicians must take the specific skill deficits reported in this study into account while designing treatment plans for these children.Show less
