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Title COGNITIVE DISENGAGEMENT SYNDROME AND PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISTIC SYMPTOMS: ROLE OF PARENTING STYLES

Author(s) Faryal Khan

Abstract The present study was designed to explore cognitive disengagement syndrome in relation with psychosocial functioning of children having autistic symptoms with a particular focus on the influence of different parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and uninvolved). The study was conducted into two phases. The first phase comprised two stages: Stage I was translation of the study scales into Urdu language and Stage II was pilot study aimed at establishing the psychometric properties of the study scales. Second phase was main study focusing the hypotheses testing on a sample of parents (N= 180) of autistic children including 84 boys and 96 girls aged 6-14 years (M= 10.91, SD=2.88), data were collected from different autism centers of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Following purposive sampling technique, parent report versions of Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome Scale, Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire, Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale, and Parenting Style-Four Factor Questionnaire were used to measure study variables. Findings revealed a significant positive correlation between cognitive disengagement syndrome and psychosocial impairments (**p<001), i.e., family, school-learning, school-behavior, life skills, child self-concept, social activities and risky activities and parenting styles (authoritarian, permissive or uninvolved) (**p<.001). Regression analysis showed that cognitive disengagement syndrome positively predicts psychosocial impairments (**p< .001). Analysis for group differences based on gender indicated that boys exhibit higher degree of cognitive disengagement syndrome symptoms and psychosocial impairments than girls. Moderation analyses further showed that though parenting styles may relate to cognitive disengagement syndrome and psychosocial impairments, they do not act as a moderator in this context. Also, the study highlights the importance of raising awareness among parents through clinical guidance, helping them to understand how their style of interaction affects child’s mental health and social development. Further, Clinicians can improve assessment and intervention strategies for autistic children with cognitive disengagement syndrome by understanding family dynamics, especially parenting styles and child wellbeing.

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

Faculty Social Sciences

Department Psychology

Language English

Publication Date 2025-08-25

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