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Perceived Friendship Quality of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder as Compared to their Peers in Mixed and Non-mixed Dyads

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Abstract

There has been limited research exploring the similarity of perception of friendship quality between children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their friends. In this study, 45 children with ASD participated together with their friends. Two levels of friendship quality congruency were investigated: reciprocity and mutuality. A high proportion of the friendships were reciprocated for both the mixed and non-mixed friendship groups. Nevertheless, students with ASD reported substantial differences in perceptions of their friendship quality as compared to their nominated friends. The findings of the present study mirrored those of previous research with typically developing children. Further study is required to systematically investigate the differences in friendship quality perceptions within friendship dyads for both typically developing children and those with ASD diagnosis.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant LP110200175 (“Autism Educational Outcomes Study”) in conjunction with Autism Spectrum Australia and Autism SA.

Author Contributions

NP conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination, interpretation of data and drafted the manuscript; MC conceived of the study, participated in the design and interpretation of the data and help to draft the manuscript; JS participated in the design and coordination of the study and help to draft the manuscript; NS performed the statistical analysis; All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Macquarie University Special Education Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Neysa Petrina, Mark Carter, Jennifer Stephenson & Naomi Sweller

Authors
  1. Neysa Petrina
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  2. Mark Carter
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  3. Jennifer Stephenson
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  4. Naomi Sweller
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Correspondence to Neysa Petrina.

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Petrina, N., Carter, M., Stephenson, J. et al. Perceived Friendship Quality of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder as Compared to their Peers in Mixed and Non-mixed Dyads. J Autism Dev Disord 46, 1334–1343 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2673-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2673-5

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