A Multi-Level Investigation of the Association between Sensory Features in Boys and Adolescents with ASD and Their Mothers’ Anxiety and Depression

The association between boys’ Sensory Features (SF) and their mothers’ anxiety and depression was investigated in two groups of boys with ASD (M age Gp 1 = 7.5 yr.; M age Gp 2 = 14.3 yr). Mothers completed the Sensory Profile (SP) on their sons, and the GAD7 and PHQ9 on themselves. Results indicated significant associations between mothers’ GAD7 scores and the boys’ SP quadrant scores (global level), between GAD7 scores and Auditory, Visual and Touch Processing Domains (subscale level), and between boys’ specific SF-related Visual and Touch behaviours and specific symptoms of mothers’ GAD7 and PHQ9 scores (item level). Implications for clinical interventions with parents of these children are described.