0000000000139567
AUTHOR
M.v. Sanchis-calatayud
The relationship between 2D:4D ratio and systemizing and empathy quotients in parents of people with autism spectrum disorders
IntroductionInterdigital 2D:4D ratio has been considered as an indicator of prenatal exposure to androgens, entailing then a smaller ratio more androgenisation. Although it has been related to systemizing and empathy dimensions in the general population, it has never been studied in parents of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).Objectives and aimsTo analyse the relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and these psychological variables in this population.MethodsThe sample was composed by parents of both genders of people with (n = 46) or without (n = 42) ASDs. The ratio was calculated as the mean of 3 measurements of each hand evaluated by 3 different researchers. Psychological dimensi…
La ratio interdigital D2:D4 y su relación con otros indicadores de androgenización en progenitores de personas con trastornos del espectro autista
The 2D:4D ratio is the quotient between the index and ring finger lengths and is a non-direct indicator of androgenisation. If prenatal testosterone levels in the amniotic fluid are high then the probability increases of developing lower ratio values. It has been suggested that people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their parents may have highly androgenised brains, and for this reason the 2D:4D ratio is used as a marker of such idiosyncrasies. This study aims to analyse if parents of people with ASD differ from the general population in several parameters of androgenisation related to the 2D:4D ratio. The sample was composed of 43 parents of offspring with ASD and 42 controls who …
Caregiving increases health complaints in middle-aged caregivers of autistic offspring: the role of years caring
IntroductionCaregiving of offspring with a chronic illness is a highly stressful vital experience. Previous studies with parents of schizophrenic persons revealed that these situations increase health complaints (González-Bono et al., 2009), with the duration of caring being a relevant variable (Contell-Montaña et al., 2010). The higher age of the caregivers of schizophrenia can contribute to this health unbalance, but little is known in younger samples.Aim/objectiveTo test whether middle-aged caregivers (parents of autistic persons) present higher health disturbances than controls and to investigate the moderating role of duration of caringMethodsHealth complaints and resting levels of imm…
Internal attribution of outcome moderates the cortisol response to a cooperative task in women
Las observaciones etológicas actuales indican que las conductas cooperativas desempeñan un papel adaptativo. En humanos, las situaciones competitivas han sido mayoritariamente investigadas en varones, aunque en escasas ocasiones se ha estudiado la cooperación. Se pretende analizar la respuesta psicológica y del cortisol a una situación cooperativa, en comparación con una competitiva en el laboratorio en mujeres. Se establecieron cuatro grupos en función de la tarea y su resultado: cooperación positiva, cooperación negativa, competición con victoria y competición con derrota. La cooperación produce efectos diferentes en cortisol que la competición, pero no en las variables psicológicas, aunq…
Electrodermal activity in response to a set of mental tasks in caregivers of persons with autism spectrum disorders
IntroductionAnalysing reactivity to laboratory stressor in lab is a valid model for understanding how people act in real-life situations. Electrodermal activity is a good index of emotionality, which has not been analysed in caregivers of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).Objectives and aimsThis work aims to compare the response of electrodermal activity to mental stress between caregivers of ASDs people and controls, as the former could show a different response due to their particular situation characterised by a state of continuous alert.MethodsParents of both genders of people with (n = 44) or without (n = 42) ASDs carried out a set of different mental tasks. Skin Conductanc…
Immunological and psychological responses to psychosocial stress in caregivers of autistic offspring
IntroductionCaregivers of relatives with chronic diseases has shown lower rest levels of immunoglobulin A than non-caregivers (Gallagher et al., 2008). In response to mental stress, IgA levels used to be increased in healthy population (Okamura et al. 2010). Scarce studies have been focused on immunological effects of caregiving in response to stress, and the results are controversial. To our knowledge, there are no studies stressing this field in chronically stressed populations such as caregivers of autistic offspring.Objectives and aimsEvaluate whether caregivers present different psychosocial and immunological responses to acute stress than non-caregivers, as well as what is the role of…
The 2D:4D ratio and its relationship with other androgenisation parameters in parents of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
The 2D:4D ratio is the quotient between the index and ring fin-ger lengths and is a non-direct indicator of androgenisation. If prenatal tes-tosterone levels in the amniotic fluid are high then the probability increases of developing lower ratio values. It has been suggested that people with au-tism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their parents may have highly andro-genised brains, and for this reason the 2D:4D ratio is used as a marker of such idiosyncrasies. This study aims to analyse if parents of people with ASD differ from the general population in several parameters of andro-genisation related to the 2D:4D ratio. The sample was composed of 43 parents of offspring with ASD and 42 controls…