Early diagnosis of mild autism spectrum disorder and its relationship with self-efficacy beliefs

Objective:  To correlate perceived self-efficacy beliefs and early diagnosis of mild Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to highlight the importance of early screening and diagnostic feedback during early childhood, contributing to individual development and societal adaptation.

Method:  The sample was obtained through extensive outreach among mental health professionals in the private mental health network in Recife, Northeast Brazil. Inclusion criteria required participants to have suspected or diagnosed mild ASD and an Intelligence Quotient (IQ) above 80. The exclusion criterion was failure to confirm the diagnosis using the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition) test. Data collection included the application of a sociodemographic questionnaire. A total of 34 individuals (aged 11 to 55 years) of both sexes were selected. Additionally, the General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) was administered. Two participants were excluded due to not meeting the diagnostic threshold for ASD on the ADOS scale. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess the internal consistency of the instrument used. The correlation between variables was evaluated using Spearman's and Kendall's correlation coefficients, along with respective statistical significance tests.

Results:  Kendall's correlation coefficient indicated a significant positive correlation, and similar conclusions were obtained using Spearman's correlation coefficient.

Conclusion:  As hypothesized, we concluded that there is a positive relationship between early ASD diagnosis and higher perceived general self-efficacy in adulthood.

KEYWORDS
Autism Spectrum Disorder; Self-Efficacy; Asperger Syndrome