Differences between the responses of parents and teachers Anxiety screening for autistic children aged 3-5 years: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

The Anxiety Disorder diagnosis is a common comorbidity of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The early detection of Anxiety is essential to increase the quality of life of children, especially in kindergarten children. Thus, the study aimed to investigate the differences between parents and teachers in reports of Anxiety in autistic children 3–5 years old. We used the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Disorders (SCARED) parent version for parents and teachers of Ecuadorian children with ASD. The statistical analyses were performed on two evaluations of the same children. The sample size was 34 parents and 34 teachers. The binomial logistic regression model for the SCARED rating to the responses of teachers was statistically significant for age (odds [OR], 0.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31-0.82) for 5-year-olds (p<0.028). The SCARED subscale for Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder is correlated with the anxiety disorder. The data are statistically significant based on teachers' responses (p <0.05). According to parents' responses, the SCARED rating did not find any relationship between the study variables and the anxiety disorder. Most children were classified with anxiety disorder when evaluated by teachers but not by parents. Identifying Anxiety in children with ASD in kindergarten can help adequately treat the disease and contribute to neurodevelopment and quality of life in childhood. Keywords: Anxiety Disorder; Children; Autism; Kindergarten; Ecuador